Gender In Crime Flashcards
What are the explanations of gender offending inequalities
- sex role theory
- patriarchal control (Heidensohn)
- Crime as a rational choice (Carlen’s gender deals)
- Liberation Theory
- Chivalry Thesis
- Bias against women
What’s the sex role theory
The suggestion that ‘normal’ masculinity is more open to crime than ‘normal’ femininity.
Socialisation differs for males and females; men to be more tough and dominant and women to be more compliant and nurturing. Therefore, women commit less crime because of how they’re socialised.
What’s a criticism of the sex role theory
- it’s very outdated
However, it has both feminists and functionalists support
How are women controlled at home in Heidensohn’s patriarchal control theory
Heidensohn argues women commit fewer crimes because of patriarchal society imposes greater control over women, thus reducing opportunities to offend.
Overall, women are controlled in the public and domestic sphere
DOMESTIC: Women’s domestic role imposes restrictions on time and movement away from the home;
Daughter’s form a ‘bedroom culture’ being taught by patriarchy it’s better to be at home, studying and working than being out with friends, messing around, like boys are encouraged to do.
Part of the domestic sphere.
How are women controlled in the public/work sphere in Heidensohn’s patriarchal control theory
PUBLIC: they’re controlled in public places by fear of sexual violence - media reporting on rape encourage this.
Females are controlled by fear of being defined as not respectable (dress, make-up etc.); can lead to a woman gaining a ‘reputation’.
What’s the ‘glass ceiling’ in Heidensohn’s patriarchal control theory
Woman’s subordinate position at work reduces criminal opportunities. The ‘glass ceiling’ prevents women rising to senior positions where there’s more opportunities for white collar crime.
What are criticisms for the patriarchal control affecting gender offending
- can be seen as outdated
- young women are much more independent today than before, not under the control of males.
- Adler’s liberation thesis can criticise this, arguing women are becoming liberated from patriarchal control and that their crime rates are increasing
- Adler says women are becoming more equal so are given more opportunities to commit WCC and CC rather than just theft and prostitution
What’s Carlen’s theory of the gender deals (crime as a rational choice)
Carlen argues that criminal women are those who fail to gain qualifications and find legitimate work; often live in poverty and dependent on benefits. As they've gained nothing from the 'class deal' and 'gender deal', they come to the rational conclusion that crime is the only way to escape poverty.
What’s Carlen’s ‘class deal’
work will provide a decent standard of living; a job to provide financial security
What’s Carlen’s ‘gender deal’
conformity to domestic gender roles to gain emotional rewards of family life; the job of being a stay at home mother
What are criticisms of Carlen’s gender and class deal theory
IF THE STATS ARE MISLEADING;
1. The idea that men in the CJS who take up ‘agent’ positions like police, jury, judges etc. are more lenient to women because they’re socialised to be chivalrous to women. They don’t think women can be anything other than passive, submissive and gentle
2. Pollak argues men have a protective attitude towards women so are unwilling to arrest, charge and prosecute them even if they’re guilty.
Their crime rates are less likely to be accurate in OCS, hiding the true figures of female offending.
What is a mitigating factor
a factor that leads to a lesser sentence/an extenuating circumstance
What’s an aggravating factor
a factor that leads to higher culpability which leads to a harsher sentence
What’s bias against women
Feminists argue the CJS is not biased in favour of women, as chivalry thesis claims, but biased against them.
They say the CJS treats women more harshly, especially if they deviate from the gender norms or heterosexual monogamy and motherhood. This can be seen with victimisation.
Heidensohn notes the double standard of courts punishing girls, not boys, for promiscuous activity; Walklate argues female rape victims are also put on trial to argue how respectable they are, in order to have her evidence accepted.
What is hegemonic masculinity
a male gender identity that defines what is meant to be a ‘real man’; those who don’t conform to it are seen as abnormal
