Gender Socialisation

Socialistation is the process in which we are taught the norms, customs and skills needed in society. 

Sutherland - 

during socialisation boys are encouraged to be risk takers and to be tough. Many will play fight with their fathers, which encourages aggressive behaviour as they are being directly reinforced through attention. 

Females are closely supervised and expected to do well in school. Girls are expected to be more conforming in society, whereas boys are described as 'just being boys' when they misbehave. Additionally, females will play with prams and dolls as kids and so don't develop the same aggressive behaviour as males. 

Girls ofen have a curfew that they need to be home by, whereas boys often do not, or have later ones. This is because night time is described as dangerous for females. This means that males have more opportunity to commit crimes than females. 

Social leanring theory 

suggests that we learn about geneder behaviours through observatio and imitation of role models. 

For example, girls will look up to their mothers, and one behaviour that is common for girls to copy is make up. A little girl will watch their mother do her make up and attempt to copy it to be just like her. 

In a simialr way, boys will want to copy their fathers behaviour. However, Cohen explained that it is a more difficult process for boys as they do not have the same access girls have to their mothers. As father often go to work, whilst mothers stay at home and look after the children. 

Becaus eof this boys rebel against their mothers as they believe the behaviour is feminine. Instead, boys seek out all male peer groups as it means that they can improve their masculinity. Male peer groups will praise masculine behaviour such as aggression, toughness and rule breaking. 

These behaviours lead to criminal behaviour as Oakley notes that the line between what is masculine and criminal may at times be thin

Patriarchal societies are those where men and fathers dominate. This means that they have control over the women reducing their opportunites of committing crimes. 

Heidensohn - women are controlled at home - by their parents who they are dependent on, in public and at work. 

As adults women have very few chances to committ crimes as they are restricted by their domestic roles as mothers and house carers. 

In the work place, there are very few opportunites for women to rise to the top and achieve senior positions so fewer opportunites to commit white collar crimes 

In public women are taught from a young age not to be out alone. The media reports on **** control the women as they do not go out at night and not alone. Therefore, they remain at home where they cannot commit crimes. 

Chivalry Hypothesis - Police, magistrates and judges all tend to be male, and have been taught to be kind and protective towards females. This could explain why women are less likely to be arrested charged or convicted. 

Men less likely to be punished - some claim that criminal justice system is bias against females. Carlen found that if a woman was seen to be a good mum she would be less likely to be puished than a woman who had children in the care system 

It is believed that male get off lighter as they are only seen to be over stepping the boundaries set in place for their gender, whereas females who commit the same crimes are treated harsher as they are going well beyond their gender expectations 

Hormones in males - biology factors not social. Testosterone is found in higher abundance in males than female. Has been linked to aggressive behaviour. Dabbs - 9/11 with lowest levels of T committed non-violent crimes. 10/11 with highest levels of T committed violent crimes

Hormones in females - female hormones promote soical behaviour. Oestradiol promotes empathy which is known to be lacking in criminals. negative correlation between oestradiol levels and testoserone related physcial aggression. (Eriksson)