Socioeconomic Inequalities and Crime Notes

Key Concepts

• Social Class: A method of categorizing individuals based on wealth, education, and occupation, which significantly influences their status, power, and societal roles. Social stratification often affects access to resources and opportunities.

• Marx's View: Marx defined social class as an economic category linked to the ownership of wealth and relations of production. He argued that class struggle is a central aspect of societal development, where the bourgeoisie (owners) exploit the proletariat (workers). This economic tension can lead to social fragmentation and unrest.

• Contemporary Perspective: Current views on social class dynamics show they are increasingly influenced by cultural factors, mobility, and globalization. The rise of a growing middle class, along with changing property ownership patterns, leads to more fluid class distinctions, complicating traditional boundaries.

Historical Context: 19th Century Crime

• 'Rough' vs. Lady Justice: Public perception often depicted working-class males as violent, contributing to the stereotype of a dangerous class. In stark contrast, Lady Justice symbolizes fairness and the ideal of impartial law, which masks the underlying societal biases.

• Street Violence: The phenomenon of street violence in the 19th century was frequently tied to cultural practices such as beer drinking and was perceived as a demonstration of masculinity. This violence was also linked to societal views shaped by physical appearance, often neglecting the structural causes of such behaviors.

• Justice System Bias: The justice system, while professing fairness, often mirrors the social hierarchies present in society, reflecting biases towards lower classes and a lack of equitable treatment.

The Dangerous Classes

• Garrotting Panic of 1862: This event caused widespread public concern over street crime and was influenced by perceptions of danger associated with specific social groups. It highlighted how societal fears can escalate into moral panic, affecting policy and public safety measures.

• Events: The garrotting of MP Hugh Pilkington triggered a media frenzy, focusing on crime as a moral issue and pushing for harsher punishments and law enforcement strategies. The public's reaction illustrates how media framing can shape policy responses to crime.

The 'Underclass' Narrative

• Defining the Underclass: This construct refers to individuals characterized by persistent engagement in criminal activities and dependency on welfare. It is a portrayal that often perpetuates stigma and demonizes the poor.

• Charles Murray's Insights: Murray characterized behaviors associated with the underclass as actions rather than conditions, arguing that welfare policies create a cycle of dependency that disincentivizes personal responsibility and initiative.

• Consequences of Individualism: The late 20th century's shift towards individualism led to significant job losses in traditional industries, decay of community structures, and rising unemployment rates, disproportionately affecting lower social classes.

Factors Defining the Underclass (Murray)

1. Illegitimacy: Increasing rates of children raised in single-parent households, particularly those without a father figure, contribute to a lack of stable family structures and traditional values.

2. Criminality: High levels of crime disrupt communities and erode shared norms and values, creating a vicious cycle of desperation and lawlessness.

3. Labour Market Behavior: A notable disengagement from the labor market, especially among young males, reflects broader socioeconomic trends and a feeling of hopelessness regarding employment opportunities.

Conservative Perspectives on the Underclass

• Welfare Critique: Conservative thinkers argue that liberal welfare policies perpetuate dependency by providing insufficient incentives for individuals to seek employment and improve their circumstances, thus fostering an underclass mentality.

• Structural Issues Overlooked: Critics contend that the political framing of underclass issues often ignores the deeper systemic socioeconomic inequalities and the criminality associated with those in power, perpetuating an incomplete narrative of crime and responsibility.

Strain Theory (Robert Merton, 1938)

• Concept: Strain theory posits that relative deprivation leads to obstacles in achieving societal goals, creating a disconnect that may drive individuals towards criminal behavior as a means of coping with their frustrations.

• American Dream Perspective: This theory suggests the ideals of success, often epitomized by the American Dream, are frequently blocked due to socioeconomic barriers tied to race, class, and other social identities, which results in feelings of anger and resentment that can lead to crime.

Deviance Typology (Merton)

Critiques of Strain Theory

• The theory's concentration on crimes associated with the lower class is criticized for excluding other important inequalities, such as those based on gender and ethnicity, which shape individuals' experiences and responses to strain.

• Strain theory does not adequately explain why some individuals experience significant strain without resorting to criminal activity, suggesting a need for a broader understanding of individual and contextual factors.

Agnew's General Strain Theory (1992)

• This theory expanded the strain framework by addressing various stressors, including failures in achieving valued goals and continuous exposure to negative experiences. It emphasizes how individual responses to strain can vary widely based on personal circumstances, including social support and resilience.

Cohen's Status Frustration (1955)

• Role of Status: Educational attainment's significance as a metric for success is emphasized, illustrating how youth lacking these credentials may experience frustration and a sense of inadequacy.

• Rebellion through Delinquency: Young individuals who feel deprived often express their frustration through rebellious behaviors, which can manifest in gang affiliations and delinquency.

Critiques of Status Frustration

• Cohen's theory has been criticized for being overly simplistic, as it primarily focuses on the experiences of working-class boys without considering variations in experiences among other groups.

• It also tends to downplay the influence of structural factors and the agency individuals exercise in response to their frustrations, neglecting the complexity of their life circumstances.

Conclusion

• Complex Link: The relationship between socioeconomic inequalities and crime is multifaceted, influenced by individual behaviors, structural disadvantages, cultural perceptions, and the broader context of economic systems.

• Importance: Recognizing the distinction between the crimes of the wealthy and the narrative surrounding the impoverished is vital to understanding social justice and crime policy.

Next Steps

• Engage with available literature and prepare for upcoming assessments. Focus on integrating various perspectives on the topics covered in these discussions for a comprehensive understanding and critical analysis.