Gender and Crime Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is the gender crime gap?
The consistent finding that women are less likely than men to commit crime across all societies
What is the difference between sex and gender?
Sex refers to biological characteristics (chromosomes, hormones, reproductive systems); gender refers to socially constructed norms and identities (expected behaviors, presentation).
What are two of the most reliable facts in criminology regarding gender and crime?
1) Men commit the majority of crimes. 2) Men commit more serious crimes.
Are men also more likely to be victims of crime?
Yes, especially for serious crime (except sexual violence).
How are women treated differently to men within the CJS?
- women are less likely to be arrested or charged with indictable offences.
- Women receive shorter sentences than men for similar offences.
- Far fewer women are in jail or prison compared to men.
What are some biological factors that may explain the gender crime gap?
Hormones (e.g., testosterone), neurological differences, and physiological traits like resting heart rate
What are some sociological factors that may explain or close the gender crime gap?
Feminisation of poverty, changing social norms, gender equality hypothesis, and increased female participation in public life.
What neurological differences may explain gender differences in crime?
Men may have less gray matter in prefrontal cortex regions, affecting decision-making and self-control.
How does resting heart rate relate to crime?
A lower resting heart rate is linked to fearlessness and lower self-control, both associated with crime. Women generally have higher heart rates.
What is the “feminisation of poverty” thesis?
the general crime gap is closing due to
1. economic inequality
2. measures of offending
Why does economic inequality increase female offending
Working class single mothers experience poor wages and unemployment and therefore commit crime to provide for children and family
What is the gender equality hypothesis/ ‘female emancipation’?
As gender roles and opportunities equalize, women adopt traits linked to crime (e.g., assertiveness, independence)
What social changes may lead to more female offending?
Female education, employment, access to birth control, and rights in developed nations
What is the process of the gender equality hypothesis?
gender equality →adoption of masculinity→more crime by women
How do we test the biological theory of the gender crime gap?
if it is biological, then it should not differ under different societal conditions across time
What would support sociological explanations?
If the gap varies over time and under different social conditions.
What does criminological evidence support (biological or sociological explanations)?
The gender crime gap is both universal and changing, suggesting both biological and sociological factors.
How do male and female criminal careers differ?
Participation: Higher for men
Propensity to offend: Higher for men
Duration: Longer for men
Severity: Men commit more violent crime
