Gender - Women

Question 1

Chivalry thesis

Answer 1

• Pollak (1950) women less likely to be prosecuted for offences, as the CJS is lenient towards them

Question 2

Evidence FOR the chivalry thesis

Answer 2

• Graham and Bowling’s research on a sample of 1,721 14-25 year olds found that although males were males more likely to offend, the difference was smaller than that recorded
• males were 2.33 times more likely to admit crime, but that statistics show makes four times more likely to admit to it
• women are more likely to be cautioned than prosecuted. Ministry of Justice, 49% of females recorded as offending received a caution in 2007, males was 30%
• Hood’s study of over 3,000 defendants, women one third less likely to be jailed

Question 3

Evidence Against the chivalry thesis

Answer 3

• Farrington and Morris’ study of sentencing of 408 offences, women not sentenced more leniently
• Buckle and Farrington’s observational study of shoplifting, twice as many males than females. Women shoplifters more likely to be prosecuted
• offences are less serious according to BOX

Question 4

Functionalist sex role theory - Parsons

Answer 4

• perform an expressive role at home, but boys reject feminine models of behaviour, e.g. gentleness
• instrumental role is performed outside the house
• boys distance themselves from femininity by engaging in compensatory compulsory masculinity, e.g. risk-taking
• Cohen argued the absence of male role model = find masculine identity through street gangs
• Murray argue that matrifocal lone parent families lead to delinquency

Question 5

Evaluation for functionalist sex role theory

Answer 5

• feminists - ignore the role of patriarchy
• Walklate - assuming that women are biologically suited to the caring role, based on assumptions

Question 6

Patriarchal control - Heidensohn

Answer 6

• patriarchal society imposes greater control over women, reducing their opportunities to offend
• Control at home,
  bedroom culture = private sphere
• Control in public
  media = frighten of rape
• Control at work
  glass ceiling = prevent women from opportunities

Question 7

Evaluation for patriarchal control

Answer 7

• women break glass ceiling
  changes in employment

Question 8

Class and gender deals - Carlen

Answer 8

• studied 39 WC women convicted of a range of crimes. Most serious female criminals were WC
• controlled by being offered a ‘deal’ or reward in return for conforming to society’s rules

Class deal - working = good standard of living
Gender deal - gain material and emotional rewards through family

• carlen’s sample failed to find a legitimate way of earning a living

Question 9

Evaluation for class and gender deal

Answer 9

• strain theory, more about money than crime