Feminist views on crime:
Intro:
Feminism is not one single theory, but a wide range of theories
linked by the common assumption that society is dominated by
males and that women are expected to live by rules that enforce
male domination of them. This male domination is known as
patriarchy
There is a clear pattern of lower conviction rates for females and
slightly less involvement in crimes of violence
There is also a higher rate of victimisation for personal crime such
as domestic abuse cases
Point 1: Chivalry Thesis
AO2:
The chivalry thesis is based on the idea that men protect and look
after women in our culture
Pollak, who explained women’s crime in terms of traditional sex
roles, claimed that women are accustomed to lying to men, for
example about bodily functions such as menstruation, or in order to
gain wealth from their lovers
At the same time, men are socialised to protect women, and so
male police officers and magistrates do not charge or prosecute
them
Thus, the argument centres on whether or not women commit equal
amounts of crime as men, but do not get punished for it if caught
Allen found that women were given slightly more lenient sentences
when convicted of motoring offences
Farrington and Morris looked at Magistrates’ Courts and found that
men were more likely to be given prison sentences
Box reviewed evidence from a range of studies in the UK and USA
and found women to be more likely to be treated kindly
AO3:
Feminists, however, have said that the chivalry thesis is evidence of
malestream thinking in criminology because differences in
conviction rates are explained in terms of biology
Smart suggested that there might be a double standard in courts
when it comes to gender
She refers to a situation where women who are convicted of
offences are seen as unfeminine and are treated very harshly. They
are seen as “doubly deviant”
For example, partner murder in domestic abuse cases often sees
women imprisoned for long periods of time, whereas men are often
allowed to argue in court that they were provoked to violence
Pat Carlen came to a similar conclusion, arguing that there is bias
against violent women in the criminal justice system
Walklate points out that in cases of rape of women, often the victim
is on trial because the perception of juries and the legal system is
that she “asked for it” through her choice of clothing or her
behaviour. The victim must therefore prove her respectability
, One of the most critical views of the chivalry thesis is presented by
Heidensohn who argues that it perpetuates stereotypical views of
the genders and does not take account of the differences in the
types and seriousness of crime committed by men and women
Point 2: Crisis of Masculinity
AO2:
Connell argues that there is a hegemonic masculinity (a male
gender identity that defines what it means to be a real man; men
who don’t want to be regarded as abnormal or odd are meant to
accomplish this masculinity)
It features such things as toughness, aggression, competitiveness,
control, success and power over women
It is the masculinity that was identified by Miller as a focal concern
of the lower working-class subculture
Messerschmidt argues that men sometimes turn to crime and
violence as a means of asserting their masculinity when legitimate
and traditional means of demonstrating masculinity and being “real
men” are blocked
Those lacking legitimate masculine-validating resources are most
likely to be those from more deprived backgrounds (the most
common criminals)
There was statistical evidence to suggest that during the 2008
recession, domestic violence incidents increased. This may support
the arguments of the crisis of masculinity leading to criminality
AO3:
Adler suggested that there had been an upsurge in female crime
(liberation thesis) and described it as dramatic, though the numbers
actually involved were relatively small compared to male crime
convictions
She attributed this rise in female crime to feminism
She claimed that women expected equal opportunities with men in
the workplace, so female criminals were demanding equal
opportunities with males to commit white-collar crime
There does appear to have been more female participation in
middle-class crime, but whether it is the result of changing female
attitudes is arguable
Previously, women would not have had opportunities for middle-
class professional crime
Point 3: Ladette Culture
AO2:
Denscombe reported that there had been an increase in risk
behaviours among young women, who had adopted many of the
behaviours and sexual attitudes of young men
Drinking and subsequent violence have led to a rise in arrests of
women
Intro:
Feminism is not one single theory, but a wide range of theories
linked by the common assumption that society is dominated by
males and that women are expected to live by rules that enforce
male domination of them. This male domination is known as
patriarchy
There is a clear pattern of lower conviction rates for females and
slightly less involvement in crimes of violence
There is also a higher rate of victimisation for personal crime such
as domestic abuse cases
Point 1: Chivalry Thesis
AO2:
The chivalry thesis is based on the idea that men protect and look
after women in our culture
Pollak, who explained women’s crime in terms of traditional sex
roles, claimed that women are accustomed to lying to men, for
example about bodily functions such as menstruation, or in order to
gain wealth from their lovers
At the same time, men are socialised to protect women, and so
male police officers and magistrates do not charge or prosecute
them
Thus, the argument centres on whether or not women commit equal
amounts of crime as men, but do not get punished for it if caught
Allen found that women were given slightly more lenient sentences
when convicted of motoring offences
Farrington and Morris looked at Magistrates’ Courts and found that
men were more likely to be given prison sentences
Box reviewed evidence from a range of studies in the UK and USA
and found women to be more likely to be treated kindly
AO3:
Feminists, however, have said that the chivalry thesis is evidence of
malestream thinking in criminology because differences in
conviction rates are explained in terms of biology
Smart suggested that there might be a double standard in courts
when it comes to gender
She refers to a situation where women who are convicted of
offences are seen as unfeminine and are treated very harshly. They
are seen as “doubly deviant”
For example, partner murder in domestic abuse cases often sees
women imprisoned for long periods of time, whereas men are often
allowed to argue in court that they were provoked to violence
Pat Carlen came to a similar conclusion, arguing that there is bias
against violent women in the criminal justice system
Walklate points out that in cases of rape of women, often the victim
is on trial because the perception of juries and the legal system is
that she “asked for it” through her choice of clothing or her
behaviour. The victim must therefore prove her respectability
, One of the most critical views of the chivalry thesis is presented by
Heidensohn who argues that it perpetuates stereotypical views of
the genders and does not take account of the differences in the
types and seriousness of crime committed by men and women
Point 2: Crisis of Masculinity
AO2:
Connell argues that there is a hegemonic masculinity (a male
gender identity that defines what it means to be a real man; men
who don’t want to be regarded as abnormal or odd are meant to
accomplish this masculinity)
It features such things as toughness, aggression, competitiveness,
control, success and power over women
It is the masculinity that was identified by Miller as a focal concern
of the lower working-class subculture
Messerschmidt argues that men sometimes turn to crime and
violence as a means of asserting their masculinity when legitimate
and traditional means of demonstrating masculinity and being “real
men” are blocked
Those lacking legitimate masculine-validating resources are most
likely to be those from more deprived backgrounds (the most
common criminals)
There was statistical evidence to suggest that during the 2008
recession, domestic violence incidents increased. This may support
the arguments of the crisis of masculinity leading to criminality
AO3:
Adler suggested that there had been an upsurge in female crime
(liberation thesis) and described it as dramatic, though the numbers
actually involved were relatively small compared to male crime
convictions
She attributed this rise in female crime to feminism
She claimed that women expected equal opportunities with men in
the workplace, so female criminals were demanding equal
opportunities with males to commit white-collar crime
There does appear to have been more female participation in
middle-class crime, but whether it is the result of changing female
attitudes is arguable
Previously, women would not have had opportunities for middle-
class professional crime
Point 3: Ladette Culture
AO2:
Denscombe reported that there had been an increase in risk
behaviours among young women, who had adopted many of the
behaviours and sexual attitudes of young men
Drinking and subsequent violence have led to a rise in arrests of
women
