gender and crime

What do official statistics suggest about gender and crime?

Men commit more crime than women, but sociologists disagree on the reasons why.

What is Pollak’s chivalry thesis?

The criminal justice system treats women more leniently, so female offending often goes unnoticed and unpunished.

How does socialisation explain gender differences in offending?

Women are socialised into having less opportunity and less desire to commit crime compared to men.

How does ‘masculinity’ explain higher male offending?

Men commit more crime as an expression of masculinity, using deviance and risk-taking to assert male identity.

What does Heidensohn’s patriarchal control theory argue about women and crime?

Women are controlled by male figures in their lives (e.g., father, husband), which restricts opportunities to commit crime.

What does Parsons’ functionalist sex role theory argue about women and crime?

Women’s biology and socialisation make them nurturing and maternal, so they are less likely to commit crime.

According to Parsons, why are women too preoccupied to commit crime?

Their role as mothers and caregivers keeps them focused on the home and family, leaving little time or desire for deviance.

What is Pollak’s chivalry thesis?

Men in the criminal justice system have a protective attitude towards women, so women are treated more leniently and their crimes are less likely to appear in official statistics.

Give an example of the chivalry thesis in practice.

Women are more likely to be ‘let off’ for crimes such as speeding.

What is Adler’s liberation thesis?

As women become more equal in society with men, they have more opportunities to commit crime.

What does Carlen’s class deal mean?

If women work hard, they are rewarded financially.

What does Carlen’s gender deal mean?

If women are good mothers and wives, they will be treated well and cared for.

Why does Carlen believe some women turn to crime?

When both the class deal and the gender deal break down, women are more likely to commit crime.

What does Messerschmidt argue about masculinity?

Masculinity is an accomplishment that men constantly construct and present to others.

What is hegemonic masculinity according to Messerschmidt?

The dominant, prestigious form of masculinity that men strive to accomplish.

How does Messerschmidt link crime to masculinity?

Crime and deviance are resources that men may use to accomplish masculinity.

What does Winlow argue about globalisation and crime?

Globalisation has led to a decline in traditional manual jobs where working-class men expressed masculinity, but created new opportunities in the night-time leisure economy.

How does the night-time economy relate to masculinity?

It provides both legal employment (e.g., bouncers) and criminal opportunities (e.g., drug dealing, violence) for men to express masculinity.