How laws change from culture to culture Flashcards
(16 cards)
what is the social construction of criminality?
Social construction refers to something that has been made or defined by society rather than occurring naturally. It therefore means all criminality is a social construct ie. any illegal act is such because it has been defined by society in this way.
polygamy ?
Polygamy is having more than one spouse at the same time.
polyandry?
Polyandry is where a woman may take two or more husbands.
what is the difference between polygyny and polyandry?
Polygyny is legal in 58 countries, while polyandry is confined to a handful of societies, mainly in the Himalayas. Most countries where polygamy is legal are Muslim majority countries. Polygamy is against the law in most countries including the U.K
Explain why religion is a reason polygamy is legal in some culture
Qur’an permits Muslim men to marry up to 4 wives, hence polygamy’s legal status in Muslim countries
Explain why tradition is a reason polygamy is legal in some cultures.
In some African societies, polygamy is a traditional practice, but this practice has declined in recent decades.
what is adultery?
a sexual act between two people, where at least 1 of the people involved is married - can vary culture to culture
what is adultery seen as in most countries?
seen as deviant and immoral, but not illegal.Countries include the UK and South Korea.
how do countries punish it?
It was decriminalised in India in 2018. Most societies that criminalise adultery are Muslim majority countries. It is illegal in some christian African countries. It is illegal in 21 US states. There is a wide range of punishment. In Saudi Arabia it can be stoning, in US) it can be a fine (Rhode Island) or imprisonment (Florida).
how does religion play a part?
Religion is a primary cause. Not committing adultery is one of the Ten Commandments in Christianity, Islam and Judaism. In societies where religion has influenced law, adultery has often been made a crime.
what is the position of women on adultery?
The position of women is another reason. Laws against adultery are often found in societies where women occupy a very subordinate position.
identify countries where homosexuality is legal
Homosexuality is legal in the UK, Europe, North and South America, Indonesia despite Muslim
identify countries where homosexuality is illegal
Male homosexuality is illegal in 72 countries Female homosexuality is illegal in 45. In 6 countries homosexuality can result in the death penalty. India has recently reinstated law criminalising homosexuality.
how does religion impact homosexuality?
Many religions, including Christianity, Islam and Judaism have traditionally condemned homosexuality. In countries which are heavily influenced by religion, homosexuality is more likely to be illegal
how does sexism impact homosexuality?
The fact that male homosexuality is a crime in more countries than lesbianism may be due to sexist assumptions by male lawmakers that women are not capable of same sex attraction.
describe honour killings
In some cultures this is the appropriate way for a family to deal with family or community dishonour. Predominately prevalent in Muslim nations such as Turkey, Jordan, Pakistan and Morocco. It is seen as murder in more Western countries.
