explaining male crime

• People have analysed crime statistics to determine males do commit more crime, however they haven't focused on what?

There are two theories regarding males committing crime- what are they and who discusses them?

• People have analysed crime statistics to determine males do commit more crime, however they haven't focused on what it is about being male that leads to men to commit crime.

There are two theories regarding males committing crime:

1. Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt

2. Postmodernity, masculinity and crime - Winlow

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt

• Influenced by recent f____ and p____ ideas, sociologists have begun to take an interest in why men are more likely to commit crime.

• Their attention has focused on the concept of m___ as a way of explaining men's higher rate of offending

• For example, M____ (1993) argues that masculinity is a s____ c____ or '____' and men have to constantly work at c____ and p___ it to others.

• In doing so, some men have to do this through c____

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt

• Influenced by recent feminist and postmodernist ideas, sociologists have begun to take an interest in why men are more likely to commit crime.

• Their attention has focused on the concept of masculinity as a way of explaining men's higher rate of offending

• For example, Messerschmidt (1993) argues that masculinity is a social construct or 'accomplishment' and men have to constantly work at constructing and presenting it to others.

• In doing so, some men have to do this through crime

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt

• Messerschmidt argues that different masculinties exist within society, but that one of these, what is the dominant, prestigious form that must men wish to accomplish.?

• H___ masculinity is defined how?

• However, some men have s____ m____.- These include gay men, who have no desire to accomplish h____ m____, as well as l____-c____ and some minority ethnic group men, who lack the resources to do so.

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt

• Messerschmidt argues that different masculinties exist within society, but that one of these, hegemonic masculinity, is the dominant, prestigious form that must men wish to accomplish.

• Hegemonic masculinity is defined through:

‘work in the paid-labour market, the subordination of women, heterosexism /i.e. difference from and desire for women and the driven and uncontrollable sexuality of men'.

• However, some men have subordinated masculinities.- These include gay men, who have no desire to accomplish hegemonic masculinity, as well as lower-class and some minority ethnic group men, who lack the resources to do so.

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt

Messerschmidt sees crime and deviance as r____ that different men may use for accomplishing m____. For example, c____ and e___ differences among youths lead to ____ forms of r____ breaking to demonstrate masculinity:

• w____ m____-c____ youths have to subordinate themselves to teachers in order to achieve what? Outside school, their masculinity takes an o____ form, for example through d____, p____ and v___.

• w____ w____-class youths have less chance of e_____ s____, so their masculinity is o____ both in and out of school. (rejecting school and rejecting society) It is constructed around s____ attitudes, being tough and o____ teachers' a____.
  who are a good example of this kind of masculinity?

• B____ l____ w___-class youths may have few expectations of a r____ job due to r___ and may use g____ m____ and violence to express their masculinity, or turn to s____ p____ crime to achieve m____ s_____.

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt

Messerschmidt sees crime and deviance as resources that different men may use for accomplishing masculinity. For example, class and ethnic differences among youths lead to different forms of rule breaking to demonstrate masculinity:

• White middle-class youths have to subordinate themselves to teachers in order to achieve middle-class status, leading to an accommodating masculinity in school. Outside school, their masculinity takes an oppositional form, for example through drinking, pranks and vandalism.

• White working-class youths have less chance of educational success, so their masculinity is oppositional both in and out of school. (rejecting school and rejecting society) It is constructed around sexist attitudes, being tough and opposing teachers' authority.
  The 'lads' in Willis' (1977) study are a good example of this kind of masculinity.

• Black lower working-class youths may have few expectations of a reasonable job due to racism and may use gang membership and violence to express their masculinity, or turn to serious property crime to achieve material success.

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt

• Messerschmidt acknowledges that middle-class men too may use crime.

• The difference lies in the type of crime - while middle-class males commit white-what type of crime? to achieve hegemonic masculinity, poorer groups may use what? to achieve a subordinated masculinity.

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt

• Messerschmidt acknowledges that middle-class men too may use crime.

• The difference lies in the type of crime - while middle-class males commit white-collar and corporate crime to accomplish hegemonic masculinity, poorer groups may use street robbery to achieve a subordinated masculinity.

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt- ✘Criticisms of Messerschmidt

Several criticisms have been made of Messerschmidt:

✘- Is masculinity an explanation of male crime, or just a d____ of m____ o____ (e.g. t____, c&&&& etc)?

• Messerschmidt is in danger of a circular argument, _ what does this mean?

• ✘- Messerschmidt doesn't explain what?

• ✘- He over-works the concept of masculinity to explain v____ a___ m____ crimes, from j____ r____ to e_____.

Masculinity and crime - Messerschmidt- ✘Criticisms of Messerschmidt

Several criticisms have been made of Messerschmidt:

✘- Is masculinity an explanation of male crime, or just a description of male offenders (e.g. tough, controlling etc)?

• Messerschmidt is in danger of a circular argument, that masculinity explains male crimes (e.g. violence) because they are crimes committed by males (who have violent characteristics).

• ✘- Messerschmidt doesn't explain why not all men use crime to accomplish masculinity.

• ✘- He over-works the concept of masculinity to explain virtually all male crimes, from joy riding to embezzlement.

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime

• In recent decades, what has led to a shift from a modern industrial society to a late modern or postmodern de-industrialised society.?

• This has led to the loss of many of the t____ m____ jobs through which working-class men were able to express their m____ by h___ p___ labour and by providing for their families.

• At the same time as j____ o____ in i____ have d____, there has been an expansion of what?

• For some y____ w____-c_____ men, this has provided a combination of l____ e_____, lucrative c____ o_____ and a means of expressing their m_____.

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime

• In recent decades, globalisation has led to a shift from a modern industrial society to a late modern or postmodern de-industrialised society.

• This has led to the loss of many of the traditional manual jobs through which working-class men were able to express their masculinity by hard physical labour and by providing for their families.

• At the same time as job opportunities in industry have declined, there has been an expansion of the service sector, including the night-time leisure economy of clubs, pubs and bars.

• For some young working-class men, this has provided a combination of legal employment, lucrative criminal opportunities and a means of expressing their masculinity.

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime

• One example of this is W____ (2001) study of b____ in S____ in the n___ e___ of E____, an area of d____-i____ and h___ u____.

• Working as b____ in the p____ and c____ provided young men with what 4 things?

• W____ draws on C____ and O_____ distinction between c____ and c____ subcultures

• He notes that in modern society, there had always been a v___, c___ s___ in s____, in which 'h____ men' earned status through their a____ to use violence.

• However, the absence of a p____ c____ s____ meant there was little opportunity for a career in o____ c___.

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime

• One example of this is Winlow's (2001) study of bouncers in Sunderland in the north east of England, an area of de-industrialisation and high unemployment.

• Working as bouncers in the pubs and clubs provided young men with both 1)paid work and 2)the opportunity for illegal business ventures in drugs, duty-free tobacco and alcohol and 3) protection rackets, 4)as well as the opportunity to demonstrate their masculinity through the use of violence.

• Winlow draws on Cloward and Ohlin's distinction between conflict and criminal subcultures

• . He notes that in modern society, there had always been a violent, conflict subculture in Sunderland, in which 'hard men' earned status through their ability to use violence.

• However, the absence of a professional criminal subculture meant there was little opportunity for a career in organised crime.

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime →Bodily capital

• Under postmodern conditions, by contrast, an o____ p____ c____ subculture has emerged as a result of the new i____ business opportunities to be found in the night-time economy.

• In this subculture, the ability to use violence becomes not just a way of displaying masculinity, but what?

• To maintain their reputation and employability, the men must use their bodily capital. - what does this mean?.

• W____ notes that this is not just a matter of being able to use v____ and win fights, but of maintaining the s____ value of their bodies, 'looking the part' so as to discourage competitors from challenging them.

• In other words, the signs of masculinity become an important c____ in their own right. This reflects the idea that in p____ society, signs take on a reality of their own independent of the thing they supposedly represent.

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime →Bodily capital

• Under postmodern conditions, by contrast, an organised professional criminal subculture has emerged as a result

• Under postmodern conditions, by contrast, an organised professional criminal subculture has emerged as a result of the new illicit business opportunities to be found in the night-time economy.

• In this subculture, the ability to use violence becomes not just a way of displaying masculinity, but a commodity with which to earn a living.

• To maintain their reputation and employability, the men must use their bodily capital. For example, many of the bouncers seek to develop their physical assets by bodybuilding. capital = money/profit

• Winlow notes that this is not just a matter of being able to use violence and win fights, but of maintaining the sign value of their bodies, 'looking the part' so as to discourage competitors from challenging them.

• In other words, the signs of masculinity become an important commodity in their own right. This reflects the idea that in postmodern society, signs take on a reality of their own independent of the thing they supposedly represent.

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime → ✓Strengths

✓ Links crime to s____ c____ — shows how d____-i_____ and p society shape working-class masculinity.

✓ Explains m____ forms of crime — especially v____ and crime in the n____-t___ l____ economy.

✓ Based on r____ r___ — W____ study of bouncers in S____

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime → ✓Strengths

✓ Links crime to social change — shows how de-industrialisation and postmodern society shape working-class masculinity.

✓ Explains modern forms of crime — especially violence and crime in the night-time leisure economy.

✓ Based on real research — Winlow’s study of bouncers in Sunderland.

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime → ✗limitations

✗ Limited g___ — based mainly on one c___ study in S___.

✗ Too focused on m___ — says little about f___? c___.

✗ Overemphasises m____ — downplays other causes like p____ or p____.

✗ Too d____ — not all unemployed working-class men turn to crime.

Winlow: postmodernity, masculinity and crime → ✗limitations

✗ Limited generalisability — based mainly on one case study in Sunderland.

✗ Too focused on men — says little about female crime.

✗ Overemphasises masculinity — downplays other causes like poverty or policing.

✗ Too deterministic — not all unemployed working-class men turn to crime.