gender, crime and justice

Question 1

What do official statistics show about gender differences in crime?

Answer 1

3/4 of convicted offenders in England and Wales are male
Females are more likely to be convicted for property offences (except burglary)
Males are more likely to be convicted for violent and sexual crimes

Question 2

What do sociologists argue about the official statistics of gender differences in crime?

Answer 2

Statistics underestimate the amount of females offending:
-‘Female’ crimes are less likely to be reported (shoplifting is less likely to be noticed and reported)
-Females are less likely to be prosecuted or given harsh sentences

Question 3

What does the chivalry thesis argue?

Answer 3

Most criminal agents (officers, judges) are men, and men are socialised to act in a ‘chivalrous’ (=nicely) way towards women

Question 4

How does the chivalry thesis challenge the official statistics in gender patterns of crime?

Answer 4

Argues that the CJS in more lenient with women>crimes less likely to end up in the official statistics>gender differences are inaccurate

Question 4

How do feminists criticise the chivalry thesis?
Why?

Answer 4

The CJS is not in favour of women, instead it is biased against women
Courts treat women more harshly when they deviate from gender norms

Question 5

Give 2 ways in which the CJS treats women more harshly than males

Answer 5

Double standards:
-Courts punish girls but not boys for ‘promiscuous’ sexual activity
-Women who don’t conform to traditional motherly standards are punished more harshly

Question 6

What are the 3 main explanations of gender differences in crime?

Answer 6

Functionalist ex role theory
Patriarchal control
Liberation thesis

Question 18

What is the explanation for why men create crime?

Answer 18

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity, and crime