Theoretical Perspectives on Female Criminality Flashcards
Positivism
A school of thought that assumes the root causes of crime are biological or physiological factors that are measurable
Dual-focus theory of female crime
The biological causes of female crime and the causes of the reactions to female offences
Pollak argued
Physiological characteristics such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause caused women to be more secretive and deceitful > reflecting their criminal behaviour
Paternalism
The belief that it is your role to make decisions for the people you govern, employ, or are responsible for so that they cannot or do not have to make their own decisions
Patriarchal
The belief that men, especially white men, are superior to all other people and beings in society, family, and industry
Feminism
The belief that women and men are different and continue to be treated differently in our society and desire to change that situation
General strain theory
Individuals have goals and expectations that are socially constructed; if they are blocked from achieving those goals, the resulting strain may drive them to use illegitimate means to achieve their goals and expectations
First-wave feminism (1890-1930)
Focused mainly on the suffrage and overturning legal obstacles to allow women to be considered “persons” under the law
Second-wave feminism (1960-1980)
Aimed to increase equality for women by building on previous gains from the first wave of feminism and to broaden the debate to include a wider range of issues (sexuality, reproductive rights, the workplace, etc)
Third-wave feminism (1990-2010)
Expansion of the feminist movement that embraced diversity and individualism in women and sought to redefine what it meant to be a feminist (intersectionality)
Fourth-wave feminism (2012-today)
A focus on the empowerment of women, the use of Internet tools, and intersectionality. Seeks greater gender equality
Radical feminist
The theory that male power and privilege is the root cause of all oppression and inequality
Social feminist
The theory that class and gender relations are equally as important and inseparable, and interact to determine the social order
Misogynistic
A hatred of or hostility toward girls, women, and female-identified bodies that can lead to both subtle and overt acts of violence against women, trans women, and racialized women
Critical race theory
Intellectual and social movement that examines the intersection of race within the criminal justice systems, policies, and law
Marxism
A 19th-century political theory suggesting that society is divided into economic classes and that those who have the wealth govern industry, policies, and laws
Lived experience
The first-hand accounts, thoughts, experiences, and impressions of a person
Why did women’s crime rates increased in the 60/70s?
Due to greater economic and social independence creating more opportunities
Hagan’s (1989) Power control theory
Society’s power relationships reflected in families
