Gender based explanations for crime and deviance Flashcards
What does Messerschmidt (1993) argue about gender explanations for crime and deviance?
Traditional markers masculinity through actions such as gaining a good job are limited to achieve for young men in disadvantaged communities. This leads them to join a gong as social spaces where young men engage in masculine behaviour displayed by other gang members
How can Messerschmidt be evalvated?
• It’s a valuable perspective on understending gang involvement
• highlights the importance of considering social context and identity struggles in youth violence
• only focuses on male gangs
• doesn’t consider the impact of social class
• overly deterministic
• can be seen as similar to Cloward and Ohlin
What are some extra points and evaluation relating to Harding (2014)?
• gangs offer a sense of belonging and acceptance from people with similar experiences and backgrounds in the face of social exclusion and rejection
• provides protection and security
• Creates a shared identity and a sense of status through economic opportunities
• gangs can provide alternate forms of socialisation with their own set of values, norms and expectations
• conflicts post modernism
• overly deterministic
• overlooks broader social context contributing to gang involvement
What does Mcrobbie and Garber (1976) argue about gender explanations for crime and deviance?
They believe the concept of bedroom culture as a space distinct from traditional male-dominated subcultures as it allows teenage girls to explore identity formation and subcultures through experimenting with makeup, hair, styles and clothes, gossiping with close friends about boys and engaging with media
ano engaging withmedia
How can McRobbie and Garber be evaluated ?
• outdated as it doesn’t consider the differences in femininity
• it doesn’t consider how class may influence how they will experience and express gender identities
• contrast with postmodernism as gender identity is now diverse through the supermarket of style
What does Thornton (1995) argue about gender explanations for crime and deviance?
She argues there is a bias towards males in the study of youth subcultures. The subcultural capital of knowledge, skills and tastes required to participate in a subculture focuses on males and their interests due to their increased free time and disposable income
to invest into subcultural activities, when a subculture becomes mainstream, it becomes viewed as feminised through Thornton’s example of raveculture
What does Heidensohn (1985) ague about gender explanations for crime and deviance?
She used the concept of control theory to descrbe the stricter social control from their fathers, brothers and husband limiting their opportunities and unsupervised time factors to facilitate crime. The role of patriarchy shapes female deviance as they resort to less visible crimes or non-violent offences due to their subordinate position and limited access to resources. When they do commit crimes, they are seen as deviant for being criminal and violating traditional feminine ideals
How can Heidensohn be evaluated?
• it provides a variable starting point for understanding the complex retationship between gender and crime
• highlights the impact of social control and societal expectations on female deviance
• Underestimates agency
“ Outdated view on control and for changing gender roles
• under representation of certain crimes such as domestic violence or financial crimes committed by women
• doesn’t show the roles of social class
• doesn’t take into account shifting identities
What are some extra points to Jackson (2006)?
•”laddishness,” is based on a fear of failure shown through interviews on 200 13 - 14 year old girls
• It is supposedly be uncool for girls to work hard reporting to more cheeky behaviour shown by girls from teachers
• an important aspect of a ladette’s leisure was hanging out with girls and boys, sometimes drinking and smoking
• this can be applied to middle class girls with fears of being called a geek
How can Jackson be evaluated?
•holds originality as the first to explore the phenomenon of girls exhibiting traditionally masculine behaviour in school
• Focuses on student voices
• shows the key factors of failure, social pressure and challenging gender norms
• a nuanced approach
• limited scope on girls in secondary schools in northern England as there could be differences based on location and demographics
• the term ladette could reinforce gender stereotypes by creating a female counterpart to the negative term of lad
What is riot grrrl?
It is a feminist punk rock movement in the early 90s in Pacific Northwest of the United States with elements of
feminism, punk music and DIY culture to create a space for women to express anger, frustration defiance against sexism, patriarchy and limitations put on them by society. It challenges the status quo as bands enpower women through making their own zines, organise shows and events, and formed independent record labels, taking control of their creative expresson. It has continued influencing alternative music, DIY culture growth and third - wave feminism focusing on personal experiences and being more inclusive
How can riot grrrl be evaluated?
• it was primarily a white, middle-class movement
• the focus on power could be seen as essentialising femininity
・contributes to the feminist discourse
• the movement was not truly explored within sociology
• did include considerations of different sexuality identities
How can postmodernism be used to criticise gender explanations for crime and deviance?
Postmodernism theory of crime and deviance focuses on the way in which crime is appealing and people commit acts of deviance because they get a buzz from it rather than because of socialisation, subcultures or deprivation. Lyng says that for some people taking risks is fun and this can include both criminal and deviant behaviour
What percentage of males received prison sentences compared to females?
males - 34%
females - 20%
What percentage of males accounted for arrests from 2017 - 8?
85%
