Key Theorists - Gender, Crime and Justice

Question 1

Key Theorist – Heidensohn (1996): Feminism and Crime and Deviance

WHAT DOES THIS THEORY SUGGEST AS REASONS FOR THE INVISIBILITY OF WOMEN IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME?
GIVE AT LEAST TWO EXAMPLES.

Answer 1

• Academics and researchers were, and are still predominantly are men.
• Malestream’ middle-class sociologists exaggerate and are preoccupied by the notion that working-class ‘macho’ males should be focused on in the study of deviance.
• There is actually less female crime to study as there is a low crime rate amongst females and the nature of their crimes is often trivial and invisible (less detectable).

Question 2

Key Theorist - Browne: Gender, Crime and Deviance

WHEN DID THEY COME UP WITH THEIR THEORY?

Answer 2

• 2009

Question 3

Key Theorist - Browne: Gender, Crime and Deviance

WHAT DO THEY POINT OUT?

Answer 3

• By their 40th birthday, about 1 in 3 males have a conviction of some kind, compared to fewer than 1 in 10 females.

Question 4

KEY THEORISTS - HEIDONSOHN AND CARLEN: SEX-ROLE THEORY?

What do they suggest?

Answer 4

• Females have more to lose if they turn to crime.
• Their socialisation means that their central role as guardians of domestic morality carries with an expectation to set a good example and not take risks.

Question 5

KEY THEORISTS - ANDERSON (1976): THE CHIVALRY THESIS

What does Anderson suggest?

Answer 5

• The Criminal Justice System is ‘Paternalistic’ and as such has a stereotypical view of females as helpless and naïve. As such the Criminal Justice System is more likely to treat females more leniently than men and let them off for offences.

Question 6

KEY THEORIST - SMART (1978): THE MAD AND BAD THEORY

What does Smart argue?

Answer 6

• Women are considered to be doubly deviant if they commit a crime because they are seen as both mad and bad if they commit a crime.

Question 7

KEY THEORIST - CARLEN (1997): SUPPORTING THE MAD AND BAD THEORY

What does this theory argue?

Answer 7

• Women are twice as likely to be denied bail when charged with drug offences, and three times as likely for serious offences involving dishonesty.

Question 8

KEY THEORIST - ADLER (1975): GROWING FEMALE CRIMINALITY

What does this theory argue?

Answer 8

• Changes in ‘typical gender roles’ are to blame for such an increase in female offences. This change is largely due to the growing independence of women and a lack of traditional controls.

Question 9

KEY THEORIST - CONNELL (1987, 1995): THE ASSERTION OF MASCULINITY

What does this theory argue?

Answer 9

• That hegemonic masculinity exists in society. This is a dominant ideology about what it means to be a man and to be a ‘real man’.
• Men who do not wish to be regarded as wimps must take risks, be tough, aggressive, competitive and powerful, which often subordinates women.

Question 10

KEY THEORIST - MESSERSCHMIDT (1993): THE ASSERTION OF MASCULINITY

What does this theory argue?

Answer 10

• Men often turn to crime as a way of asserting their masculinity. This is particularly the case when traditional means are unavailable e.g. getting a job, having a girlfriend.
• Crime becomes a ‘masculine-validating resource’.