Women and crime Flashcards
Why do men turn to street violence and not women?
Cohen- boys lack role models, turn to gangs for male identity.
According to sex-role theory, why do women commit less crime?
Gender socialisation encourages women to adopt feminine characteristics (Emotional).
Traditional roles- wives, housewives, mothers.
Roles and socialisation make women afraid of risk-taking in crime, fewer crime opportunities than men.
What does functionalist Parson’s say differences in crime is because of and why?
differences due to gender roles in nuclear fam.
Men, instrumental role. Women, expressive role.
Girls access role model, boys reject femininity, distance themselves and engage in ‘compensatory compulsory masculinity’.
Define compensatory compulsory masculinity.
going against feminine culture compensating with overly masculine activities.
What does Heidensohn and Carlen say that supports Cohen’s theory of why men turn to violence not women?
females more to lose if commit crime- lots of morals.
What is the chivalry thesis?
Anderson- criminal justice system paternalistic, stereotype women as naïve- cjs treat females leniently than men.
Stat from the ministry of justice about women being let off compared to men.
49% women recorded as offending received caution, men 30%.
Describe Hood’s study which proves that women are treated more leniently in the system than men.
study 3000 defendants, found women 1/3 less likely jailed for similar offence to men.
According to Pollak, why are women less likely to be convicted of a crime compared to men, in terms of biology?
men raised to be respectful to women, likely be lenient. Due to biology women subversive, better at hiding crimes.
Campbell conducted a self-report study on the likelihood of women being caught compared to men, what were his findings?
women likely cautioned than caught.
Ratio male:female juvenile offending (not arrested for it) 1.33boys:1girls
Official figure 1girl:8.95boys. (whose committing it)
Carlen conducted unstructured interviews with 39 convicted female offenders, what were women encouraged to conform to?
Class ideal- rewards from working in paid employment (buying goods).
Gender ideal- rewards from fulfilling roles in fam.
Accept these deals, conform, don’t commit crime.
Carlen conducted unstructured interviews with 39 convicted female offenders, what were women encouraged to conform to?
Class ideal- rewards from working in paid employment (buying goods).
Gender ideal- rewards from fulfilling roles in fam.
Accept these deals, conform, don’t commit crime.
Critique Carlen’s unstructured interviews with 39 convicted female offenders and his findings.
Rewards from these deals aren’t available for everyone, poverty, unemployment etc- rational choice to choose crime, offers possibility for these deals.
According to Heidensohn, why do women commit less crime?
patriarchal society imposes control over women, reducing opportunities to offend.
In the private domestic sphere, why do women commit less crime? Give an example.
responsibilities for housework/ childcare, less time/ opportunity for crime- women more consequences if they get involved.
E.g., teenage girls less likely commit crime than boys, more supervised.
