Lecture 4 Gender and Crime
16 million teenagers give birth every year (World Health Organisation 2013)
1 in 3 women are abused by their partners (World Health Organisation 2013)
“Sex” VS “Gender”
Sex- biological differences between male and female human beings
Gender- differences in constructions of ‘male’ and ‘female’ identities (shaped by society and
culture) E.G. social roles, social identity, expectations within society
Hegemonic masculinity- dominant form of what it means to be male
Hegemonic femininity- dominant form of what it means to be female
How have constructions of gender changed historically?
Women were originally expected to stay at home and raise children, however, this is
now more shared
Women go out and work more, maybe dads stay at home
Women’s rights- divorce, marry again
Family planning helped women to have the choice of whether to have children or
not and be able to focus on their careers
Women are now more likely to hold positions of power
Cultural differences
FGM higher in non-Western cultures
Saudi Arabia women allowed to drive
Belief that women are below men
Masculinity Femininity
Strong Submissive
Powerful Caregiver
Brave Weak
Dominant
Bread-winner
Protector
Theorising Gender
Patriarchy- system of power/hierarchy in which men dominate, exploit and oppress women.
Suggests that all men are the same and that they carry out these acts and try and oppress
women.
Work (domestic and labour market)
State/government
Culture
Male violence against women
Family- women’s roles within the family
Doesn’t focus on other reasons why women are oppressed
Intersectionality
Takes into account lots of different reasons for oppression in a hierarchy
16 million teenagers give birth every year (World Health Organisation 2013)
1 in 3 women are abused by their partners (World Health Organisation 2013)
“Sex” VS “Gender”
Sex- biological differences between male and female human beings
Gender- differences in constructions of ‘male’ and ‘female’ identities (shaped by society and
culture) E.G. social roles, social identity, expectations within society
Hegemonic masculinity- dominant form of what it means to be male
Hegemonic femininity- dominant form of what it means to be female
How have constructions of gender changed historically?
Women were originally expected to stay at home and raise children, however, this is
now more shared
Women go out and work more, maybe dads stay at home
Women’s rights- divorce, marry again
Family planning helped women to have the choice of whether to have children or
not and be able to focus on their careers
Women are now more likely to hold positions of power
Cultural differences
FGM higher in non-Western cultures
Saudi Arabia women allowed to drive
Belief that women are below men
Masculinity Femininity
Strong Submissive
Powerful Caregiver
Brave Weak
Dominant
Bread-winner
Protector
Theorising Gender
Patriarchy- system of power/hierarchy in which men dominate, exploit and oppress women.
Suggests that all men are the same and that they carry out these acts and try and oppress
women.
Work (domestic and labour market)
State/government
Culture
Male violence against women
Family- women’s roles within the family
Doesn’t focus on other reasons why women are oppressed
Intersectionality
Takes into account lots of different reasons for oppression in a hierarchy
