Sociological explanations of female offending Flashcards
What does Parsons Sex Theory state?
Functionalist theory
Focuses on gender socialisation as an explanation of female rates of crime
Functionalists argue that women’s traditional roles involved caring for parents, children and dependant elderly relatives while men took care of paid work.
Women having gender characteristics such as being more emotional, less competitive, less tough and aggressive means that they were less averse to taking risks than men. These combinations mean that many women are more afraid of committing crime and they also have fewer opportunities to commit crime than men who are more aggressive, risk taking and expected to constantly go out for work.
These differences in socialisation mean that it makes sense for men to be more likely to be criminals.
How does Cohen support Parsons Sex Theory?
Cohen- the relative lack of an adult male role model means boys are more likely to turn to all male street gangs as a source of masculine identity
How does Walklate criticise Parsons sex role theory?
Walklate criticises the sex role theory for its biological assumptions. Parsons assumes that because women have the biological capacity to bear children, they are naturally suited to the expressive role.
Heidensohn states that womens behaviour is controlled by the patriarchy. She state that this is accomplished in 3 ways:
At home
In the workplace
In public
What does she say about each one of these?
fewer and less crimes than men.
In her view, this is because patriarchal society imposes greater control over and this reduces their opportunity to offend. This patriarchal control operates at home, in public spaces and at work.
Control at home:
Women’s domestic role with its constant housework and childcare, imposes severe restrictions on their time and movement and confines them to the house for long periods, reducing their opportunity of offending. Women who try to reject their domestic role may find that it Is imposed by force, through domestic violence from their partners.
Dobash and Dobash- many violent attacks result from men’s dissatisfaction with their wives’ performances of domestic duties. Men also exercise control through their financial power e.g., denying women sufficient fund for leisure activities, thereby restricting their time outside the home.
Control at work:
Women’s behaviour at work is controlled y ale supervisors and managers. Sexual harassment helps keep women in their place. Women’s subordinate position reduces their opportunities to engage in major criminal activity at work. For example, the “glass ceiling” prevents many women from rising to senior positions where there is greater opportunity to commit fraud.
Control in public:
Women are controlled in-… public place by the treat or fear of male violence against them. For example, the Islington crime survey found that 54% of women avoided going out after dark for fear of being victims of crime, as against only 14% of men.
Heidensohn notes that sensationalist media reporting of raps adds to women’s fear. Distorted media portrayals of the typical rapist as a stranger who carries out random attacks frightens women into staying indoors.
Females are also controlled in public by their fear if being define as not respectable. Appearance, ways of speaking and acting that are viewed as inappropriate can gain a girl a “reputation”. For example, women on their own may avoid going into pubs- which are sites of criminal behaviour- for fear of being regarded as sexually “loose” or even as prostitutes.
How does Leeds support Heidensohns belief that women are supressed in public?
Leeds- boys maintain control through sexualised verbal abuse, for example by labelling girls as slags if they fail to conform to gender role expectations.
What does Carlen say about material and emotional reards?
Carlen- argued that due to the “class deal” (material rewards) and the “gender deal” (material and emotional rewards from fulfilling roles), women are encouraged to conform to societies norms and values.
Define the term class ideal- Carlen.
The class deal- women who work will be offered material rewards, with a decent standard of living and leisure opportunities.
Define the term gender ideal- Carlen.
The gender deal- patriarchal ideology promises women material and emotional rewards from family life by conforming to the norms of a conventional domestic gender role.
What does Carlen say about women and class ideals/gender ideals?
Most women just accept these deals and conform to society, they don’t want to commit crime as they believe they have too much to lose, and so these deals prevent women from committing crimes.
Carlen also suggested that women crimes are crimes of the powerless from the women who haven’t been offered these deals (such as being unrewarded in the family and workplace).
Therefore, women commit crime as an alternative rational choice, for example shoplifting is an “easy” alternative. If a woman gains nothing from the class deal, they commit crimes to escape the terms of the gender deal, women who have not had the opportunity to conform (due to domestic abuse or growing up in care) commit crime as it is the only route to a decent standard of living.
Give one strength of Heidensohns theory.
Heidensohn shows the many patriarchal controls that help prevent women from deviating.
Give one strength of Carlens theory.
Carlen sows how the failure of patriarchal society to deliver the promised “deals” to some women removes the controls that prevent them from offending.
Give a weakness that can be applied to both Carlens and Heidensohns theory?
Weaknesses:
Both theories can be accused of seeing women’s behaviour as determined by external factors. This underplays the importance of free will and choice in offending.
Carlen’s study is also unrepresentative as it only looked at WC pupils and serious offenders.
What does Adlers liberation thesis state?
Adler argues that as women become liberated from patriarchy, their crimes will become as serious as men’s.
Women’s liberation has led to a new type of female criminal and a rise in the female crime rate. Adler argues changes in the structure pf society have led to changes in women’s offending behaviour. As patriarchal discrimination has lessened, and opportunities in education become more equal women have adopted male roles in legitimate activity e.g., work and illegitimate activity e.g., crime.
As a result, women no longer commit traditional female crime such as prostitution. They now commit men crimes such as violence. This is because of women’s greater confidence and assertiveness and the fact that they have opportunities n the legitimate structure. For example, there are more women in senior positions at work means women are given the opportunity to commit white collar offences such as fraud.
What evidence is there to support Asler’s liberation thesis?
There is evidence to support this view, for example overall female offending and female share of offences increased. Adler argues the pattern of crime has shifted, she cities studies showing women’s participating in traditionally male crimes such as armed robbery.
Provide 2 criticisms to the liberation thesis.
Women crime rate increased around 10 years before the women’s liberation movement
WC women are the most likely to commit crime yet the least likely to be influenced by women’s liberation which is a middle-class problem.
Chesney-Lind (1997) – In the USA, poor and marginalised women are more likely to commit crime than liberalised women. They also found evidence of women committing male crimes (e.g., drugs) due to prostitution (a very unliberated female offence).
Adler overestimates the extend to which women have become liberated and the extent to which they are now able to engage in serious crime.
