Crime (GENDER)
General
Official stats show men commit more crime, but sociologists disagree on why. Some argue female offending rates are unnoticed and unpunished because CJS treats women leniently (eg, through chivalry thesis - Pollak).
Others believe gender differences in offending is due to socialisation, women have less opportunity/desire to commit crime. Other sociologists argue women do commit crime, but men commit more due to idea of ‘masculinity’.
Patriarchal control theory - HEIDENSOHN
Argues women have at least one male figure in their life who does not want them to commit crime.
Functionalist sex role theory - PARSONS
Argues that due to biology and socialisation, women are nurturing by nature, and so are incapable of/ do not want to commit crime. Women are too busy being a mother.
Chivalry thesis - POLLAK
Men are protective towards women so are more lenient - their crimes are less likely to be in official stats. Eg, women more likely to be ‘let off’ for crimes such as speeding.
Liberation thesis - ADLER
Believes women are now becoming more equal with men, therefore they now commit more crime.
Class and gender deals - CARLEN
Suggests that women have two deals - the class deal and the gender deal. The class deal is if they work hard they will be financially rewarded in life. The gender deal is if they are a good mother and wife they will be treated well. Carlen believes that when both deals break down, women turn to crime.
Men commit more crime - masculinity - MESSERSCHMIDT
Masculinity is an accomplishment that men construct and present. This is referred to as the hegemonic masculinity - the dominant form men wish to accomplish. Messerschmidt sees crime and deviance as a resource men use to accomplish masculinity.
Men commit more crime - globalisation - WINLOW
Globalisation led to decline in manual jobs in which w/c males could express masculinity through. lncrease in night-time leisure economy providing a combination of legal employment and criminal opportunities to express masculinity.