Sociology - C&D - Social distribution - Social Class Flashcards
Who studied prisoner frequency and the working class background
Williams (2012)
How did Williams (2012) conduct research on behalf of the Ministry of Justice?
Used a longitudinal survey and studied prisoner over a 4 year period.
How many prisoners did Williams (2012) study?
3849
What general characteristics did Williams (2012) find prisoners to have?
- Had run away from home - Experienced violence/drug/alcohol misuse - Working class background
What educational characteristics did Williams (2012) find prisoners to have?
No qualifications - Low numeracy and literacy skills - 59% truanted - 42% excluded
What family characteristics did Williams (2012) find prisoners to have?
24% had been in care - 29% experienced abuse - 41% violence in the home - 84% had a family member that had been in prison or YOI
What is an advantage of Williams (2012) study?
Large sample size so it’s representative and can be generalised so can inform policy
What is a disadvantage of Williams (2012) study?
Longitudinal study so costly and time consuming and may have people dropping out of the study, reducing the sample.
What did Murray and Jones (1989) study?
The underclass and crime scene
What cultural explanation did Murray (and Jones (1989)) develop for the type of person that commits crime?
Because they belong to the underclass so do not share the same norms and values as the rest of society.
What does Murray (and Jones (1989)) blame for crime?
The generosity of the welfare state; making it possible for young parents to have an opportunity to commit crime.
What does (Murray and) Jones (1989) suggest about he growing underclass in run down areas in American cities?
It leads to gang formation whose members take drugs and commit violent crime
What does Taylor (1997) believe has led to the underclass?
The marketisation of American and British society and the declining demand for unskilled labour
Why does Taylor (1997) believe young, unskilled working class males are likely to commit crime?
They have been particularly affected by long term inequality and declining job opportunities
What are the disadvantages of Murray and Jones (1989) ideas of the underclass?
- Tham (1998) criticises it - Mooney (1998) criticises it
Why does Tham (1998) criticise the research conducted by Murray?
He compared welfare policies and crime rates in Britain and Sweden in the 1980-90s, in Sweden there was less inequality and less use of imprisonment and had generous welfare payments. However, crime rate was higher in Britain, contradicting Murray’s ideas.
Why does Mooney (1998) criticise Murray’s work?
She examined the role of single parenthood to see if it was associated with criminality, finding no evidence to support it. Mooney identifies the issue with poverty causing crime. Single parents were 20% more likely to be victims of crime (all women)
Who studied the Saints and the Roughnecks?
Chambliss (1973), a Marxist sociologist.
Who and what did Chambliss (1973) study?
“The saints and the roughnecks”, studied two high school gangs of boys to look at social class and crime and its impact on labelling, lasting two years.
What did “The Saints” gang consist of?
8 young men who were white and upper class
What did “The Saints” do?
Truanted from school, involved with drinking and vandalism but didn’t get arrested. Chose carefully where to display acts of delinquency.
What did “The Saints” utilise to negotiate ways out of lessons, cheat on tests and homework and gain high grades?
Status and good reputation
What did the gang “The Roughnecks” consist of?
6 boys from the lower class
What did “The Roughnecks” do?
In constant trouble with the police and the community, were seen as typical gang members. Subject to community vigilance and police aware of their delinquency.
