It may be that those in authority connected with law enforcement hold stereotyped beliefs about women and men. A stereotype is an exaggerated and distorted view of a social group, for example, female offenders are seen as ‘sad’ rather than ‘bad,’ so they are more in need of help than punishment. Consequently, female offenders may be treated more leniently than males with in the criminal justice system.
Then how do we explain women’s increased involvement in crime?
There was an increase of 60% in the number of female offenders who received prison sentences of over 4 years but less than life between 1986 and 1991. One possible explanation is that the media, as an agency of socialisation, have had an impact on women’s roles . There are now more varied female role model represented in the media. Films, for example, increasingly show assertive female characters who are every bit as strong and resourceful as men. The changing position of women in society means that they are less tied to the home. They now have similar legal and illegal opportunities to men.
My research question is ; What do teenagers think about the effect of gender on crime?
METHODOLOGY
I intend to collect data from 12-16 year olds in my school using questionnaires. I will use both open ended and closed questions. Open-ended questions are those that the interviewee can answer with what ever words he or she wishes to use. Closed questions are boxes which are ticked by the interviewee. I intend to have data telling me in general what 12-16 year olds think to the effect of gender on crime. I chose not to do interviews as they get a wide range of results and in this case to wide a rang for the question I wish to answer!
I wrote up a pilot questionnaire and passed 5 to 12-16 year olds to see how affective my questionnaire is.
PILOT QUESTIONNAIRE IS SHOWN ON NEXT PAGE!
A few things on my pilot questionnaire needed to be changed. Below are the corrections;
‘ Have you ever been charged or cautioned with a crime?’
This question has had to be taken out of my questionnaire as it is to intrusive to the person involved and I cannot be sure of getting truthful answers!
‘If yes, what crime were you charged or cautioned with?’
This question was a follow up to the above question and as the above question has been taken out I will have to take this one out too. This question again may not have had truthful answers and is to intrusive to the person involved.
‘In 1995, 395000 males and 84000 females were found guilty of or cautioned with indictable offences.’
This statement had to be changed to;
‘ In 1995, 395000 males and 84000 females were convicted of or were cautioned with more serious crimes.’
This statement had to be changed as no body new what indictable meant!
‘Do you think female offenders are treated more leniently in the justice system?’
This question was again taken out of my questionnaire as I felt this may cause offence to certain individuals.
FINAL QUESTIONNAIRE
Are you male or female?
MALE FEMALE
Do you think from an early age that girls are watched more closely than boys of the same age?
YES NO
Why do you think this is so?
“In 1995 384000 males and 84000 females were convicted of or were cautioned with serious crimes.”
Do you think this statement is true? Or do you think it could just be exaggerated?
TRUE EXAGGERATED FALSE
If you think it is exaggerated why do you think so?
Do you think women are increasingly getting involved in more and more serious crimes?
YES NO
Why do you think that is so?
Do you think that in general males have a more aggressive approach and women a more passive approach?
YES NO
Do you think a mans ‘tough’ and ‘macho’ image is why men are involved in crime?
YES NO
Do you think the increasing amount of women having more action roles in movies could change the way the younger generation grow up causing a higher female crime rate?
YES NO
RESEARCH FINDINGS
In general girls and boys both think girls are watched more closely from an early age then boys of the same age!
Boys and girls alike think this is because girls are or are seen as being weaker then and boys are or are seen as being stronger or more dominant so girls can be taken advantage of by the stronger sex!
Some of the people I asked said it was not until girls reach their teen age years that they began to be more closely watched or protected more by parents.
Most girls and boys thought the statement was true or exaggerated with most thinking the statement was true!
STATEMENT; “In 1995 384000 males and 84000 females were convicted of or were cautioned with serious crimes.”
When asked why they did not think this statement was totally true in general people said that the data in the statement was exaggerated to show a greater difference in the male and female crime rates!
Most people did think in general that more women were getting involved in or getting involved in more serious crimes.
When asked why in general I found that most people thought this was because women felt more equal with men so could commit those more serious crimes believing they can do them because men can! Or that women felt like they had something to prove!
Girls and boys alike thought males were more aggressive and females more passive! This tells me that boys and girls alike do think that crime is gender related.
When asked if males tough and macho image was why men got involved in crime, girls in general thought this was the main reason for males to be involved in crime, and boys were unsure if men’s image had anything to do with there involvement in crime.
Girls were 50/50 whether the media had anything to do with women’s increasing involvement in crime. While boys generally thought the media and women playing increasingly violent parts in films would effect young girls!
