cjs 418 gender and media exam 2 (chapter 6)

theoretical perspectives on female criminality

different theories make sense of criminal behavior in different ways. theories help understand behaviors.

macro theories

larger scale explanations (ex: poverty, unemployment, incarceration rates.) statistics, shifts, trends, cultural shifts.

micro theories

focus more on individual and small group behaviors (ex: why a particular offender individually offends?)

Cesare Ombroso & William Ferrero

theorized that offenders (woman and men) are biological throwbacks (less involved) and have degenerative physical characteristics (head and face). Measured body parts and compared incaracted to nonincaracted. Woman had less ladylike qualities, less maternal. Males more violent (evil tendencies) ruthless.

sheldon glueck & eleanor glueck

harvard law criminlogists, tries to find differences between male and female offenders. among first to study recidivism . drew from sociology, biology, psychology, and anthropology. (looked at role of family in deliquency/ enviromental factors)

Otto pollak

most female crimes are petty and not reported. (woman get prefenretial treatment by the courts) more likely to be let go

masked criminality of woman

pollak- women gain power by deceiving men through sexual playacting and faked sexual responses. they have more access to commit crimes against children and elderly due to caregiviing and domestic worker roles.

travis hirschi

tried to understand why people commit criminal acts, as well as why people do not commit criminal acts. How people control criminal impulses?

social bond theory

hirschi- four bonds that prevent people from acting on criminal impulses or desires. attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.

attachment

bond with values of society, results of relationships with family, friends, and social institutions.

commitment

investment that a person has in the normative values of society (ex: owning a business, owning a home…)

involvement

level of participation in conventional activities (ex: sports, school, bands)

belief

general acceptance of society rules. belief in laws, customs, traditions, and values

family

(strongest inhibitor) of deliquency. bonds with parents are stronger predictor for girls (less deliquency) than for boys. still strong for both

school

also a strong factor in preventing deliquency. protective factor for both boys and girls. less drug and alcohol use.

general theory of crime

travis hirschi and Micheal gottfedson. micro level approach. focused heavily on self- control.

self control

is the top explanative factor in delinquent and criminal behavior. rooted in family. gender is irrelevant to control. low control= more criminal behavior. early intervention is critical

boys

more likely to be aggressive, impulsive, and risk- taking. associated with criminal behavior

girls

delinquent behavior more likely to be associated with psychiatric disorders, issues in the home.

differential association theory

edward sutherland- criminality is a learned behavior that results from peer associations. more exposure, to deliquent behaviors, the more likely to act in a deliquent manner (( influence social relationships in criminal behavior- micro approach))

strain theory

looks at structural limitations (barriers) to success. failure to achieve goals, lack of positive influences, negative influences. societal pressure and lack of means to achieve accepted goals can create strain. this pressure/ stress may increase deliquent behavior

response to strain

girls are more likely to internalize anger which may lead to self- destructive behavior and mental health issues (ex: depression) abuse in home, more likely to run away. use alcohol/ drugs. negative emotions and deliquency (BOYS are more likely to lash out with physical and emotional outbursts. Abuse in home and criminal behaviors (ex: tagging, stealing cars, fighting)

relationship strain

unhealthy intimate relations. Girls getting involved with older mens

feminist criminology

needs to better adress policy (ex: arrest, incarceration, intervention) cause of offending… treatment.

life course theory

robert Sampson and john laub— life events provide an insight into why a person might engage in criminal behavior

significant life event

employment, parenthood, marriage, etc. can all be strong factors (ex: healthy marriage, less likely to abuse drugs, commit crimes)

feminist criminology

focuses on themes of gender roles and socialization that stems from feminist movement and theory: places more emphases on the lives and experiences of girls and women.

feminist pathways approach

how life events (trauma) lead to criminal offending. cycle of violence, victimization, relations, etc.

role of victimization

can lead down a path of ongoing criminal offending and being victimized. (homelessness, prostitution, stripping) powerlessness, exploitation, economic, vulnerability, exclusion.

multiple pathways to crime

victimization, early family abuse, addiction, intimate partner violence, high crime areas, lack of education, lack of job opportunities, mental illness, early deliquency.

drug use and strain

boys are more likely to be arrested, sell drugs, and drop out of school

liberation of women

freda adler and rita Simon— liberation led to increased criminal activities in women. more opportunities to commit crimes when less attached to traditional gender roles (changing social positions of women impact crimes.

power control theory

John hagan— focused on effects of patriarchy within the family unit as a tool socialization for gender roles. parental control plays major role (less control, more deliquency) (boys are more amibitious)