Gender socialisation Flashcards
Patterns of socialisation
Sutherland argues that different patterns of socialisation experienced by boys and girls reinforces behaviour that may encourage criminality in boys, and discourage it in girls.
Sex role theory
Argues that boys and girls are socialised differently, therefore resulting in boys becoming more delinquent.
Sex role theory - Sutherland (1949)
Girls are more supervised and more strictly controlled.
Boys are encouraged to take risks and be tough and aggressive.
Therefore, boys have more of an opportunity and an inclination to commit crime.
Bandura (1977) - gender socialisation
Gender socialisation can also be explained using Social Learning theory.
Bandura argues that all people learn behaviour by observing and imitating role models.
Role models
Role models are more likely to be observed and imitated if they share characteristics with the observer, such as being of the same gender.
Children therefore will learn their gender behaviour mainly from their parents, with boys imitating their fathers, and girls imitating their mothers.
Cohen (1955)
Suggested that girls have easy access to their mothers whereas traditionally fathers have been rather elusive role models as they are less frequently available for their sons.
Dabbs et al (1987)
Found that 9 out of 11 inmates with the lowest testosterone concentrations had committed nonviolent crimes, whereas 10 out of 11 inmates with the highest testosterone concentrations had committed violent crimes.
Suggests that testosterone is related to increased aggression.
Eriksson et al (2003)
Compared the hormone levels of males who had a history of alcohol-related aggression showed a negative correlation between oestradiol levels and testosterone related physical, violent aggression.
Suggests that both male and female hormones play a role in at least some criminal behaviours.
Oakley (1972)
“The dividing line between what is masculine and what is criminal may at times be a thin one.”
Differences in social control
Patriarchal societies are those where men and fathers dominate.
Such societies impose greater control over women, reducing the opportunity they have to commit crimes.
Heidensohn (1985)
Women are “controlled” at home, work and in public.
Heidensohn (1985) - home
Daughters are dependent on the care from their parents they’re not able to stay out as late as sons.
Women have fewer opportunities to commit crimes because of the greater time and movement restrictions placed on them by their domestic roles.
Heidensohn (1985) - workplace
The “glass ceiling” prevents women from rising to senior positions and having few opportunities to commit white collar crime.
Heidensohn (1985) - public
The way the media reports on crimes such as rape also controls women by increasing the fear they have for being out in public, especially alone at night.
This fear causes women to stay at home, and have less opportunity to commit crime.
