Explain the gender differences in particular types of crime.
Explain the gender differences in particular types of crime.
The object of this paper is to explain gender differences in particular types of crime. I intend to do this by using various books and the Internet to briefly explore burglary, prostitution and crime related to a violent nature. I also wish to include any graphs or statistics I may find of interest and relevance to this essay.
It has been stated that the differences between men and women, and their upbringing, has greatly influenced the crimes they commit and whether they commit crimes at all. I personally feel that this is a generalisation and may border on stereotyping and discrimination, for example if you asked people who they thought would commit an offence related to football hooliganism they would often say a man. To show evidence to support this statement I conducted my own short survey and recorded my findings.
I was alarmed to find that not only did most of the people I asked related the crimes to males, but then they went onto describe them as "a skinhead" "lots of tattoos" "lager lout", all very stereotypical roles.
It is believed by various sociologists that factors influence us from the period of our upbringing. This belief is supported by Thomas 1967, who said "the girl as a child does not know she has any particular value until she learns it from others" Internet resource, five, 2003.
There are two points that we must be aware of. The first is the gender specific role models we are presented with. For instance, a male is generally brought up to be assertive to gain the objects and the possessions that he desires and displays a varied amount of
aggression. A female, on the other hand, is conditioned to believe she must maintain a clean responsible reputation so she is thought of as a respectable candidate for marriage, and in turn bring up her own family.
Secondly, as Bowlby suggested, "People who are deprived of motherly affection in their infancy later are likely to become criminal". Although this cannot be proved we can relate it back to my initial point and conclude that people deprived of gender specific roles are generally more likely, but not guaranteed, to commit crime.
"The women who are most likely to become criminal are the minority who have been brought up in care, or who have rejected 'normal' family life". Sociology, 1995.
Furthermore, it is generally believed that during childhood, girls are supervised more closely than ...
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Secondly, as Bowlby suggested, "People who are deprived of motherly affection in their infancy later are likely to become criminal". Although this cannot be proved we can relate it back to my initial point and conclude that people deprived of gender specific roles are generally more likely, but not guaranteed, to commit crime.
"The women who are most likely to become criminal are the minority who have been brought up in care, or who have rejected 'normal' family life". Sociology, 1995.
Furthermore, it is generally believed that during childhood, girls are supervised more closely than boys are and in turn they do not learn the skills that are required to commit crime. This continues in to adulthood where men are generally less supervised at work, due to careers in the building industry and driving lorries. So not only are they free to learn these skills but also to put them into practice and use them. Even though childcare is more of a shared responsibility nowadays, it is still usually largely regarded in society as a mainly female role. This is another reason women maybe isolated from certain crimes that men have more opportunity to discover.
One of the most common criminal acts is burglary. It tends to be a "Predominantly male crime". Internet resource one, 2004.
This can explained as due to this particular crime being "A relatively solitary pursuit that takes place late at night" Internet resource one, 2004. Therefore it may be dangerous for women and may attract too much unwanted attention, it may also be difficult if the woman has a
family to take care of at home. Women still hold certain skills such as speed, agility and the ability to be delicate and manipulate small spaces with their smaller body frame but men tend to have the aggression if needed and overall generally have more strength to push, pull and carry items. Here we can explain the crime rates too as young males are thought of to be under more and closer supervision than females. This is due to the police believing young males commit more crime and so becomes a vicious circle.
Prostitution appears to be a female dominated crime, especially in the past. This crime carries a double standard as although women can be prosecuted for selling sexual intercourse the men cannot be punished for buying it. It is an example of a less visible crime, as is shoplifting, and due to this fact seems to be a crime, which is easily overlooked.
"Otto Pollak was the first to argue that official statistics did not represent the true picture of female crime and much of it is masked"
Robinson, 2001, Internet resource three
I have found two reasons that these crimes can be easily brushed under the carpet. Crimes such as shoplifting can be seen as a cry for help and can therefore be put down to medical problems such as emotional stress or depression. Lloyd, 1995, stated it was easy for women to be labelled "mad or bad". On the other hand, a stereotypical view of women in crime is that they are forced to commit these crimes by men who have a powerful influence over them. Both of these views are saying that it is not in a woman's nature to commit crime unless there is an external force to pressure them.
In the past, due to the gender specific roles people have been shown, the female lifestyle has been centred on the home. This would suggest that they did not spend much time drinking in public houses and clubs. This is an important factor as drink and drugs have always been an issue where violent crimes are concerned, this is still a problem today. As men would
spend time socialising in pubs and clubs, often in groups dominated by men, problems often arose in the streets at closing time. It is another
example of a less visible crime in certain ways as women mostly direct their violence within the home and even today, men abused by their female partners find it embarrassing and therefore hard to report the crime, leaving the female to re offend and never be prosecuted. If a man were to commit a violent crime there would usually be a clear victim, whereas when a woman commits a violent act in the home, police often have to rely on statements from witnesses such as neighbours making it harder for the woman to be prosecuted.
However, as shown in the following data I have found in my research, it is clear that the rates for male and females who have been victimised by violence, and reported it, has been getting closer. Nevertheless, can this mean that more women are committing crime or that more women are caught and prosecuted nowadays.
One explanation could be that as childcare and other domestic responsibilities are now more of a shared job, more women are spending time socialising in pubs and clubs and in turn have the same opportunities as men to commit crimes of a violent nature.
However, Kalven and Zaesel suggested a 'chivalry factor', implying that courts and police officers are more lenient on females. It is shown in
Statistics that "twice as many women are cautioned than being prosecuted" Robinson, 2001, Internet resource three.
We could suggest that men do not expect women to commit crime, as they do not believe it is in their nature and that they do not have the opportunities to commit crime.
I have found in my research that they are many factors effecting the gender differences in particular types of crimes. Background and upbringing will always be an important part of who we are and the lifestyles we lead, so it is fair to say that this will affect certain people to commit crime. Saying that, it is not proven that everyone from a bad or poor background or family structure will become a criminal, and the ever-changing family structures and social views will make it very difficult, if not impossible, to conclude from that statement.
However, there are still crimes hugely dominated by either sex, depending on their responsibilities and lifestyle, men and women have very different opportunities to commit different types of crime.
I do not personally believe that it is the crimes we commit, but how we are perceived when we do commit them. It seems that at some points in history it has been easier to plead insanity or have a reduced or a more lenient sentence, if you can state some medical reasoning to your actions, or for women to claim they were forced by a male.
I found on the Internet one quote I completely agree with, it stated,
"It is naive to assume that women and crime may be explained by any one theory" Internet resource five, 2003. It went on to say that all
Biological and sociological factors must be taken into account as must the individual. I agree with this view as there is no explanation why any of us behave the way we do, regardless of our gender, religion or colour.
Bibliography.
Moore, Stephen. Sociology, ALIVE. 1987.
Townroe and Yates, Sociology, 1995.
Internet resources.
. www.crimedeviance.co.uk
2. www.bbc.co.uk/health
3. www.geocities.com/musicplanet3k
4. www.ojp.usdoj.gov
5. www.keltawebconcepts.com
Vicki Brindle.
09/05/07.
Sociology assignment three.
