Patterns in Crime: Ethnicity

Question 1

Why do ethnic minorities appear to commit more crime?

Answer 1

There are differences in offending (Left realists)
Ethnic differences are socially constructed (Labelling theory)

Question 2

There are REAL ETHNIC DIFFERENCES in offending (Left Realism)

Answer 2

Lea and Young say that people commit crime differently due to relative deprivation, subcultures and marginalisation, it cannot be due to police stereotypes as they would only be stereotyped against black people

Question 3

Evaluation for real ethnic differences in offending

Answer 3

Arrest rates may be lower for Asians as police stereotype them differently to black people

Question 4

Ethnic differences are SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED (Labelling theory)

Answer 4

Gilroy argues that black criminality is a myth created by racist stereotypes, their crime is a form of political resistance, a lot more likely to be stopped and searched

Question 5

Evaluation of ethnic differences being socially constructed

Answer 5

Gilroy romanticises this street crime as revolutionary, in fact it caused issues for the public