Gender (women) And Crime Flashcards
What does Pollak say is the reason why women commit less crime?
Women get away with much more unrecorded and undetected crime than men. Official statistics underestimate female offending because women are naturally more skilled than men at deceiving people so are more likely to escape detection for offences
What points can be used to evaluate Pollak’s idea?
- Jones- his theory is unsupported by evidence
* Heidensohn- his theory is only a male bias based on a stereotypical view of women (reflects the era it was made)
What does the chivalry thesis suggest is the reason why women commit less crime?
The low numbers of women in official statistics is a result of the lenient treatment of women by the criminal justice system. Officials are more inclined to let female suspects off or punish them less severely than men. Men are socialised to be softer towards women and more protective.
What point can be used to evaluate the chivalry thesis?
Heidensohn states that there are double standards in the criminal justice system. Women are treated badly when they deviate from the norms of behaviour associated with femininity. They are seen as doubly deviant for breaking norms of society and the norms of appropriate behaviour for women. The criminal justice system is gendered and experienced differently by men and women.
What does the sex role theory say is the reason why women commit less crime?
Females are socialised to adopt feminine values and characteristics such as being more emotional, less aggressive and less competitive than men. Women are therefore less likely to partake in potentially deviant behaviour than males whose socialisation approves aggression and toughness. Women’s traditional roles involve being wives and mothers which limit their opportunities to behave in deviant or criminal ways. Parsons suggests that mothers provide clear role models for girls to follow who emphasise care and support.
What point can be used to evaluate sex role theory?
Farringdon and Painter suggest that the failure of socialisation leads women to commit crime. Female offenders are more likely to have had harsh and erratic parenting with little support
What does Heidensohn suggest is the reason why women commit less crime?
The patriarchal society imposed greater social control over women which reduces their opportunities to offend. Control at home ( domestic responsibilities/ bedroom culture), control in public (Islington Crime Survey: 54% of women avoid goi g out late in fear of being a victim of crime) and control at work ( by male superiors/ cant reach top positions to commit white collar / corporate crime)
What point can be used to evaluate Heidensohns view of social control?
There is now more equality and women have greater freedom. Adler argues that women’s crime rates and the types of crime being committed are becoming more similar to Mens. There are now more opportunities in work for women to commute white collar/ corporate crime
What does Carlen suggest is the reason why women commit less crime?
Women are led to conform through the promise of the gender deal and class deal. The gender deal says that marriage will give emotional fulfilment and stability. The class deal says that hard work and sacrificing some personal freedom will give social mobility and status. The promise of these deals lead to conformity
What point can be used to evaluate Carlen’s idea of the class and gender deal?
Working class women may reject the deals due to their blocked opportunities and crime may be commuted in order to achieve what they want without conforming
What doe Harilambos and Holborn say about female offenders?
Women are more likely to be sanctioned with a caution than sentenced
What does Hedderman suggest about female offending?
Imprisonment for women is rising
What does Steward day about sentencing?
Whether people are given bail or remanded in custody is better explained by the seriousness of the offence rather than the offenders gender
What does Denscombe say about female liberation?
Females are increasingly as likely to partake in in risk taking behaviour
