Gender Explanations of Crime Flashcards
Lombroso: Biological Differences and Crime
Females= biologically less likely to commit crime
Argued that women who commit crime have bio disorders which account for their behaviour
Physical characteristics can determine which females (and males) are most likely to become offenders
Otto Pollak: Hidden Criminality of Women
Criminality of women= reflects their bio nature, women are more criminal than they appear
Criminality of women= masked by society, hiding it is supported by their physical weakness, which makes them less obvious offenders.
Socialisation teaches women to conceal factors; menstruation, marital frustration - this enables them to easily deceive.
What are the 4 crimes identified by Pollak typically committed by women?
Shoplifting + Criminal abortions = mostly women
Female domestic + Care workers committed many unreported crimes
Most prostitution offences go unreported/ignored by authorities
Women’s domestic, expressive roles provide opportunities to hide crimes such as poisoning relatives.
Why did Pollak suggest that there is an under-recording of crime committed by females?
Police courts + other law enforcement officials tend to be men, brought up to be chivalrous and lenient with female offenders.
Women are skilled in hiding their crimes, as a result of female biology. Women are accustomed to misleading men
What is the chivalry thesis?
Suggests that women are let-off lightly by the male dominated criminal justice system
What was the findings from Sonia Starr’s research?
For same crime, men are punished more harshly
95% of prison population is men
Women significantly more likely to avoid charges and convictions
Gender is the key issue in the CJS not any other factors.
Hood: Supporting Chivalry
Suggests women are more deviant than they appear and found evidence that they are protected because of ‘chivalry’ by police, courts etc.
Women are less likely to be arrested, charged and sentenced within the CJS, which means that the statistics demonstrating female criminality are significantly distorted and not reflective of the true extent of criminality.
Steven Box: Feminisation of Poverty & Women Police Officers
Any Increase in women’s crime is a result of poverty
There has been a ‘feminisation of poverty’ - womens crime more to do with poverty and necessity.
This has become widespread as a result of the growing number of lone parents and the struggle that comes with a solo income.
ALSO claimed that there is a relationship between the increasing employment of women police officers, and the increased recording of crimes by women
Martyn Denscombe: Ladette Culture
There has been an increase in risk behaviour by women- they have adopted many of the behaviours and sexual attitudes of young men.
Young women adopting masculine behaviours as a reaction to gender stereotyping.
James Messerschmidt: Hegemonic Masculinity
Males are socialised into hegemonic (dominant) masculine values, which stresses differences from women.
Several masculine goals need to be achieved in order to be considered a ‘real man’
What are the goals according to Messerchmidt that are needed to be achieved?
Respect from other men, power, objectification of women, toughness, territorial loyalty, no expression of weakness, being anti-authority, taking risks, seeking pleasure and excitement.
These all lead to crime.
How did Messerschmidt link WC youth boys to hegemonic masculinity?
WC youths have the lowest educational attainment, they form subcultures in order to achieve hegemonic masculinity values- these compensate for the lack of school success.
These gangs participate both inside and outside of school, and participate in delinquent activities.
Annie Campbell: Aggressive Masculinity
Men express their masculinity through criminal behaviour
Young men seek compensation for lack of breadwinner.
