Explaining Female Crime

Functionalist Sex Role Theory

A theory suggesting that differences in crime and deviance can be traced back to traditional gender roles within the family.

Compensatory, Compulsory Masculinity

A form of masculinity where boys engage in aggression and anti-social behavior to distance themselves from feminine traits.

Patriarchal Control

The system through which patriarchal society restricts women's behavior, limiting opportunities for deviance.

Class Deal

The material rewards women are promised from working, including a decent standard of living and leisure opportunities.

Gender Deal

The promise of material and emotional rewards from family life for women conforming to conventional domestic roles.

Liberation Theory

A theory that as society becomes less patriarchal, women's crime rates will increase and align more closely with men's crime statistics.

Moral Panic

A societal reaction to perceived deviance which may be exaggerated or based on false perceptions of certain groups' behaviors.

Control Theory (Heidensohn)

A theory that explains women's conformity to social norms as a result of strong patriarchal controls limiting their opportunities to offend.

Cohen's View on Male Role Models

Cohen argues that a lack of male role models pushes boys to join all-male street gangs to find masculine identity and status.

Walklate's Critique of Parsons

Walklate challenges Parsons' assumption that women are best suited to expressive roles solely based on biological differences.

Victimization Statistics (Homicide)

70% of homicide victims are male; 60% of female victims are killed by partners or ex-partners.

Fear of Crime (Gender Differences)

Women report a greater fear of crime despite experiencing it less; 54% of females avoid going out after dark compared to 14% of males.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy (Labelling Theory)

A prediction that causes itself to become true due to the behavior it incites in individuals.

Female Offending Pattern

The increase in female commitment to traditionally male crimes like embezzlement and armed robbery, attributed to societal changes.

Domestic Violence Reporting

Only 8% of women who experience sexual assault report it to the police, often due to the belief that police can do little to help.

Bedroom Culture

A phenomenon where girls socialize at home rather than in public, limited by parental controls and societal expectations.