Assess sociological explanations of gender differences in the pattern of crime
Statistics show that men are more likely than women to commit crime. In 2009 and
2012, 5% of the total prison population in England and Wales were women while
95% were men. Moreover, four out of five of convicted offenders in England and
Wales are male. These statistics suggest that men are more criminal than women.
However, the rate of female arrests for violence against a person, which was
previously considered a male offence, is increasing. This shows that the trends of
offending are changing and that women are committing crimes that were
predominantly considered men's crimes. In addition, the female population held on
remand custody is increasing. Adler argues that as women become liberated from
patriarchy, their crimes will become as frequent and as serious as men's. This
explains the increase of female arrests for violence against a person and the
increase in the female population held on remand.
There are different explanations for the gender differences in the pattern of crime.
One explanation is the chivalry thesis which argues that the Criminal Justice system
is more lenient on females because it is made up of men. The thesis argues that
men are socialised to act in a ‘chivalrous’ way towards women. Otto Pollak therefore
argues that men have a protective attitude towards women and hate to accuse
women. This means that statistics give an invalid picture of crime as women are less
likely to end up in the official statistics therefore exaggerating the extent of gender
differences in rates of offending. However, feminists reject the chivalry thesis and
argue that courts treat females more harshly than males when they deviate from
gender norms. This shows that there are double standards as females are punished
more harshly when they commit crimes considered to be ‘male crimes’. In addition,
the chivalry thesis does not exist in societies where equality exists in the criminal
justice system. For example, the chivalry thesis does not exist in Finland as 42% of
the Criminal Justice System is female.
Another explanation for the statistics is that women’s crimes are domestic as
opposed to men’s crimes which are public. An example of women’s crimes is the
abuse of children and the elderly. Such crimes are not easily visible thus it is harder
Statistics show that men are more likely than women to commit crime. In 2009 and
2012, 5% of the total prison population in England and Wales were women while
95% were men. Moreover, four out of five of convicted offenders in England and
Wales are male. These statistics suggest that men are more criminal than women.
However, the rate of female arrests for violence against a person, which was
previously considered a male offence, is increasing. This shows that the trends of
offending are changing and that women are committing crimes that were
predominantly considered men's crimes. In addition, the female population held on
remand custody is increasing. Adler argues that as women become liberated from
patriarchy, their crimes will become as frequent and as serious as men's. This
explains the increase of female arrests for violence against a person and the
increase in the female population held on remand.
There are different explanations for the gender differences in the pattern of crime.
One explanation is the chivalry thesis which argues that the Criminal Justice system
is more lenient on females because it is made up of men. The thesis argues that
men are socialised to act in a ‘chivalrous’ way towards women. Otto Pollak therefore
argues that men have a protective attitude towards women and hate to accuse
women. This means that statistics give an invalid picture of crime as women are less
likely to end up in the official statistics therefore exaggerating the extent of gender
differences in rates of offending. However, feminists reject the chivalry thesis and
argue that courts treat females more harshly than males when they deviate from
gender norms. This shows that there are double standards as females are punished
more harshly when they commit crimes considered to be ‘male crimes’. In addition,
the chivalry thesis does not exist in societies where equality exists in the criminal
justice system. For example, the chivalry thesis does not exist in Finland as 42% of
the Criminal Justice System is female.
Another explanation for the statistics is that women’s crimes are domestic as
opposed to men’s crimes which are public. An example of women’s crimes is the
abuse of children and the elderly. Such crimes are not easily visible thus it is harder
