1.2
Explain the social construction of criminality
Definition - created or defined by society, rather than simply occurring naturally.
How laws change from culture to culture/place
Polygamy
having more than one husband or wife at the same time.
Polygyny = where a man may take two or more wives.
Polyandry = where a woman may take two or more husbands
Legal
- Polygyny legal in 58 countries
- polyandry confined to only a handful of societies, mainly the Himalayas
- Muslim majority countries
- India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka = permits polygamy but only for Muslims
Illegal
- UK = marrying more than one person is bigamy, punishable up to 7 years imprisonment, and or a fine
- Turkey + Tunisia
Reasons for change
Religion position of women
In the Mormon church polygamy was practiced until 1890, however it is still practiced by some
fundamentalist Mormon groups illegally
In the Qur’an, it is permitted for Muslim men to have up to four wives
Tradition
Polygamy has traditionally been practiced in many African societies
, Adultery
sexual act between two people, when one or both of them is married to another person
Legal
- UK
- Most countries it is legal
- In India was legal up until 2018
Illegal
- Muslin majority countries
- Philippines, Taiwan and 21 US states
- several countries in Africa that are Christian majority
Punishment in Rhode Island, USA = fines
Punishment in Malaysia + Indonesia = stoning to death, caning
Reasons for change
Religion
In most religions adultery is condemned
Not committing adultery is a part of the ten commandments shared by Christianity, Islam and Judaism
Where religion has an influence of the law-making process adultery is largely illegal
position of women
Adultery is often illegal in countries where women are seen as subordinate (lesser) to men
adultery laws are often unequal
Explain the social construction of criminality
Definition - created or defined by society, rather than simply occurring naturally.
How laws change from culture to culture/place
Polygamy
having more than one husband or wife at the same time.
Polygyny = where a man may take two or more wives.
Polyandry = where a woman may take two or more husbands
Legal
- Polygyny legal in 58 countries
- polyandry confined to only a handful of societies, mainly the Himalayas
- Muslim majority countries
- India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka = permits polygamy but only for Muslims
Illegal
- UK = marrying more than one person is bigamy, punishable up to 7 years imprisonment, and or a fine
- Turkey + Tunisia
Reasons for change
Religion position of women
In the Mormon church polygamy was practiced until 1890, however it is still practiced by some
fundamentalist Mormon groups illegally
In the Qur’an, it is permitted for Muslim men to have up to four wives
Tradition
Polygamy has traditionally been practiced in many African societies
, Adultery
sexual act between two people, when one or both of them is married to another person
Legal
- UK
- Most countries it is legal
- In India was legal up until 2018
Illegal
- Muslin majority countries
- Philippines, Taiwan and 21 US states
- several countries in Africa that are Christian majority
Punishment in Rhode Island, USA = fines
Punishment in Malaysia + Indonesia = stoning to death, caning
Reasons for change
Religion
In most religions adultery is condemned
Not committing adultery is a part of the ten commandments shared by Christianity, Islam and Judaism
Where religion has an influence of the law-making process adultery is largely illegal
position of women
Adultery is often illegal in countries where women are seen as subordinate (lesser) to men
adultery laws are often unequal
