-
Certain types of crimes affect women Victimisation and Crime Functionalist sex role theory
more
Women are more likely to be a victim of domestic violence due to their dependency on Explanations of gender differences in crime focus on the difference in socialisation.
their partner finances-wise, or that they cannot escape the relationship due to factors Boys are socialised to be tough, aggressive and risk-taking. This means that they are
such as their children and not being as physically strong. Women are also more likely more likely to commit crime like violence or take advantage of criminal opportunities.
to be sex workers or trafficked by criminals.
- Parsons
HOWEVER, men are actually affected by the situation too in some cases, with 1 in 6 Crime differences traced to gender roles in nuclear families.
victims of domestic violence being men. This statistic could also be higher when taking Men’s ‘instrumental’ role: Breadwinner outside the home
into account how many unreported incidents of domestic violence there are where men Women’s ‘expressive’ role: Socialising children inside the home
are the victims of the crime.
- Masculinity and violence Girls have access to female role models, whereas boys reject female behaviours and
An aspect of being a ‘proper man’ is to be aggressive instead distance themselves, engaging in ‘compensatory compulsory masculinity’
and strong, therefore they assert themselves by being which in turn becomes delinquency.
violent and more likely to be assaulted by other males.
- Cohen
Why do men HOWEVER, not all men are violent and society’s Relative lack of male role models means males turn to gangs to get identity.
commit more crime? concept of masculinity is changing, e.g. more Status means toughness, risk-taking and delinquency.
interested in breaking up fights.
- New Right
- Messerschmidt: Masculinity Absence of male role models in single mother families leads
Argues that men have to constantly work at constructing to boys turning to street gangs for identity and status.
a masculine identity to others.
Crime and deviance is seen as a way of achieving this masculinity.
Crime and
Deviance -
Due to globalisation, many traditional W/C male jobs have disappeared
which previously offered ways to express masculinity through hard
Gender and
Crime (1) Heidensohn: Patriarchal control
physical labour.
At the same time, the expansion of the service sector (e.g. Women’s behaviour is conformist - they commit fewer crimes than men
pubs/bars/clubs) have provided young W/C men with legal This is because the patriarchal community imposes greater control over
employment and lucrative criminal opportunities. women and reduces the opportunities to offend.
Liberation Thesis There are 3 areas that this control takes place in:
HOWEVER, it is argued that this 1. Home
masculinity is just explaining the types Society changes, women become The domestic role confines women to the home. If they reject it, men may be enforced
of behaviours that are shown liberated from patriarchy and their by domestic violence. Dobash and Dobash conducted unstructured interviews and
by male offenders, rather crimes become as frequent and as found many attacks are a result of men not being happy with women’s duties in the
than an explanation for serious as men’s. home. Control may also take place through men withdrawing finances.
why they commit 2. Public
crime. Changes in the structure of society has led to changes in
women’s offending, with more quality and less patriarchal Controlled by threat or fear of violence against them, especially sexual. Media
control. Even male crimes like violence are committed. reporting adds to this fear with the representation of rapists being strangers carrying
out random attacks. Also controlled by the fear of not being seen as respectable (e.g.
Evidence to support this view includes an increase in the offending rate dress, make-up etc). Want to avoid having a reputation.
amongst females, the pattern shifting with rising participation in crimes like
3. Work
embezzlement and armed robbery and a growth in ‘girl gangs’.
Behaviour is controlled by male supervisors/managers. Sexual harassment keeps
HOWEVER, most female criminals are working class; which are the group least likely to women ‘in their place’. Lower positions also means less opportunity to commit crime at
be affected by ‘women’s liberation’ and movements to combat female discrimination. work; it is pretty hard to commit fraud at the bottom.
In addition to this, women involved in drug crimes are usually also involved in
prostitution, an offence that is very unliberated. HOWEVER, Heidensohn also says that patriarchy can actually lead women to crime
Heidensohn actually disagrees too, arguing the CJS is actually biased against women. e.g. more likely to be poor due to the system so they turn to theft or prostitution.
Certain types of crimes affect women Victimisation and Crime Functionalist sex role theory
more
Women are more likely to be a victim of domestic violence due to their dependency on Explanations of gender differences in crime focus on the difference in socialisation.
their partner finances-wise, or that they cannot escape the relationship due to factors Boys are socialised to be tough, aggressive and risk-taking. This means that they are
such as their children and not being as physically strong. Women are also more likely more likely to commit crime like violence or take advantage of criminal opportunities.
to be sex workers or trafficked by criminals.
- Parsons
HOWEVER, men are actually affected by the situation too in some cases, with 1 in 6 Crime differences traced to gender roles in nuclear families.
victims of domestic violence being men. This statistic could also be higher when taking Men’s ‘instrumental’ role: Breadwinner outside the home
into account how many unreported incidents of domestic violence there are where men Women’s ‘expressive’ role: Socialising children inside the home
are the victims of the crime.
- Masculinity and violence Girls have access to female role models, whereas boys reject female behaviours and
An aspect of being a ‘proper man’ is to be aggressive instead distance themselves, engaging in ‘compensatory compulsory masculinity’
and strong, therefore they assert themselves by being which in turn becomes delinquency.
violent and more likely to be assaulted by other males.
- Cohen
Why do men HOWEVER, not all men are violent and society’s Relative lack of male role models means males turn to gangs to get identity.
commit more crime? concept of masculinity is changing, e.g. more Status means toughness, risk-taking and delinquency.
interested in breaking up fights.
- New Right
- Messerschmidt: Masculinity Absence of male role models in single mother families leads
Argues that men have to constantly work at constructing to boys turning to street gangs for identity and status.
a masculine identity to others.
Crime and deviance is seen as a way of achieving this masculinity.
Crime and
Deviance -
Due to globalisation, many traditional W/C male jobs have disappeared
which previously offered ways to express masculinity through hard
Gender and
Crime (1) Heidensohn: Patriarchal control
physical labour.
At the same time, the expansion of the service sector (e.g. Women’s behaviour is conformist - they commit fewer crimes than men
pubs/bars/clubs) have provided young W/C men with legal This is because the patriarchal community imposes greater control over
employment and lucrative criminal opportunities. women and reduces the opportunities to offend.
Liberation Thesis There are 3 areas that this control takes place in:
HOWEVER, it is argued that this 1. Home
masculinity is just explaining the types Society changes, women become The domestic role confines women to the home. If they reject it, men may be enforced
of behaviours that are shown liberated from patriarchy and their by domestic violence. Dobash and Dobash conducted unstructured interviews and
by male offenders, rather crimes become as frequent and as found many attacks are a result of men not being happy with women’s duties in the
than an explanation for serious as men’s. home. Control may also take place through men withdrawing finances.
why they commit 2. Public
crime. Changes in the structure of society has led to changes in
women’s offending, with more quality and less patriarchal Controlled by threat or fear of violence against them, especially sexual. Media
control. Even male crimes like violence are committed. reporting adds to this fear with the representation of rapists being strangers carrying
out random attacks. Also controlled by the fear of not being seen as respectable (e.g.
Evidence to support this view includes an increase in the offending rate dress, make-up etc). Want to avoid having a reputation.
amongst females, the pattern shifting with rising participation in crimes like
3. Work
embezzlement and armed robbery and a growth in ‘girl gangs’.
Behaviour is controlled by male supervisors/managers. Sexual harassment keeps
HOWEVER, most female criminals are working class; which are the group least likely to women ‘in their place’. Lower positions also means less opportunity to commit crime at
be affected by ‘women’s liberation’ and movements to combat female discrimination. work; it is pretty hard to commit fraud at the bottom.
In addition to this, women involved in drug crimes are usually also involved in
prostitution, an offence that is very unliberated. HOWEVER, Heidensohn also says that patriarchy can actually lead women to crime
Heidensohn actually disagrees too, arguing the CJS is actually biased against women. e.g. more likely to be poor due to the system so they turn to theft or prostitution.
