Feminist theories of crime
- Created by: jesskeayy
- Created on: 30-05-17 22:19
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- Feminist theories of crime
- Not a united theory but all share the common assumption that society is dominated by males
- PATRIARCHY
- Clear lower conviction rates with less involvement in violent crimes
- Women may commit equal amounts of crime but are treated more leniently by the system
- Men and women don't commit equal amounts of crime, men and masculinity are a problem for society
- Chivalry Thesis criticisms
- POLLAK
- Studied the idea that women are accustomed to lying i.e. about menstruation to gain from their lovers
- MORRIS
- Looked at courts and found men were more likely to be sentenced. Though, they were more likely to commit more serious crime
- MORRIS
- Men are socialised to protect women, male police officers/judges are more lenient on women
- Women may commit just as much crime as men, they're just not punished as much
- Studied the idea that women are accustomed to lying i.e. about menstruation to gain from their lovers
- FEMINISTS ARGUE:
- Chivalry thesis is based upon a male-stream thinking
- SMART
- Double-standards in court. Women are seen as unfeminine for committing 'male crimes' and are treated harshly
- CARLEN
- Bias against violent women in the system.
- Woman that commits a crime against a child will be treated harsher, as its seen to be 'against their biological instinct'
- The gender deal: want to e respectable to be able to find a husband. The class deal: Women expect that no matter what class, they should be able to work a goof job
- HEIDENSOHN
- Chivalry thesis perpetuates stereotypes of gender and do not take into account the level of crime
- Controlled in the home, controlled in public spaces i.e. masculine territory like pubs and Controlled in employment i.e. less opportunity
- WALKLATE
- In **** cases, the victim is often seen to be put on trial as though she 'asked for it' i.e. through clothing/behaviour
- POLLAK
- ADLER
- Equal opportunities in society for females has resulted in the same opportunities in crime
- Females now have the opportunity to commit more white collar middle class crime, hence the rise in crime
- Equal opportunities in society for females has resulted in the same opportunities in crime
- DENSCOMBE
- Rise in female crime is down to copying of masculine behaviours
- Fight against traditional gender stereotypes and adopt masculine attitudes i.e. violent when drunk etc
- CRITICISMS
- Functionalism and Marxism fail to offer insight into why women do/don't commit crime
- Focus on masculinity as a problem- offer suggestions as to why men commit crime i.e. too superior within society
- CJS offers lots of evidence that offer insight into women's criminal careers
- Overlooks issue of class and ethnicity
- Not all crime committed by women can be excused because they are female/victims. Women often commit domestic violence (2/3 of cases)
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