Essay
Map – A2 Sociology OCR Unit 3
Outline
and assess sociological explanations of gender differences in patterns of
crime. [50]
Introduction
Official statistics support
sociological arguments that there are gender differences in patterns of crime,
in 2002 over 80% of know offenders where men.
The total prison population
on 30 June 2011 stood at 85,374 offenders - of this women accounted for 5%, a
consistent figure with the four preceding years. 21% of women in prison under
immediate custodial sentence were serving sentences of 12 months or less
compared with 10% of men. (The Guardian 2012)
Clearly crime is gendered, nevertheless it can be asserted that official
statistics on gender differences in crime may not be valid as critics have
noted that very little victimisation is reported to the police. Nevertheless, some earlier sociological explanations of
crime such as Pollack chivalry thesis has asserted that women’s crime are underestimated
because they have been treated more leniently.
Although Hood offers some support for this view, regardless others have
argued that some of the gender differentials in crime
statistics may be as a result of the fact that women tend to commit less
serious crime than men and thus are less likely to convicted and
imprisoned. Additionally functionalists
such as Parsons asserted that the gendered pattern of crime is a result of
gender role socialisation. Moreover,
feminists especially Marxist feminist such as Carlen and Heidensohn have argued
women are often victims of crime and for women who are perpetrators of crime
this may be a result of poverty and rejection of the class and gender
deal. Such women are perceived as doubly
deviant and subject to greater risk of criminalisation and imprisonment. Messerschmidt using the work of Connell has
provided an insightful if tautological analysis of masculinity and crime. Finally postmodernist such as Smart have
asserted that the gendered nature of crime can only truly be understood through
transgressive criminology and the movement outside of malestream criminology. Make your judgement
Main Body
Paragraph 1
Briefly discuss statistics and gender differences in crime
Comparison of victimisation
and self-report studies
(Support with Graham
and Bowling)
Discussion of the
accuracy of the official statistics,
Assess the
usefulness of such statistics on gender differences in crime
Paragraph 2
Examine
male patterns of crime
The importance of
sub-cultures, studies – Merton, Cohen, Cloward & Ohlin,
Matza (functionalism)
Criticisms of
sub-cultural approaches
Labelling, Marxist,
Left Realism and or Postmodernism
Link to the
question
Paragraph 3
Outline
Messerschmidt and Connell’s analysis of hegemonic masculinity
Support with Katz and
Lyng, Winlow
Evaluate the
tautological issues of this approach suggest usefulness
Link back to the
question
Paragraph 4
Typically female crimes such as shop lifting
are less likely to be reported. For example property crime is less likely to be
noticed or reported than the violent or sexual crimes committed by men.
Similarly prostitution, committed by more women is more likely to go
unreported. Even when women’s crimes are reported they’re less likely to be
prosecuted.
Assess the question with Pollack –outline his theory
“chivalry thesis”
Support
with Hood and Campbell
Analysis
with Farrington and Morris
Critique
the validity of his theory – nature of criminal act/doubly deviant
Link
back to the question
Paragraph 5
The
impact of feminism on female crime,
Adler
– outline her theory “liberation thesis”
Critique
the validity of her theory – crime statistics suggest most crime is working
class
“Women
and social control” - Feminists Heidensohn,
Carlen, Worrall and Walklate (control theory)
Link
back to the question
Paragraph 6
Smart’s
transgressive criminology
Critique
the validity of her theory
Link
back to the question
Conclusion
Clearly
there are distinct and apparent gender differences in patterns of crime, which
has meant that criminology has come to be labelled as malestream by
feminists. Nevertheless more recent
studies, such as Messerschmidt or Carlen over the past 30 years have examined
and suggested insightful explanations for gender differences in patterns of
crime, whilst such theories may have explicitly provided sociological
explanations for long ignored gender differences in patterns of crime. Yet they still especially Messeschmidt’s
approach hold some deep seated tautological weaknesses which limits their
usefulness as a sociological explanation of gender differences in crime.
Paragraph
6 is not essential as it may not be possible to include this in 45 minutes
Mark Scheme
Candidates are expected to
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of sociological explanations of gender
differences in patterns of crime. They will address both male and female
patterns of crime and they will deploy relevant theories accurately and in
detail. Candidates are likely to discuss issues such as the official statistics
on gender differences in criminal activity, victimisation and self-report
studies, the importance of sub-cultures, the impact of feminism on female
crime, masculinity and crime, women and social control. By way of evaluation,
expect to see discussion of the accuracy of the official statistics, whether
female crime is increasing, comparisons with victimisation and self report studies,
the validity of the chivalry thesis and criticisms of sub-cultural approaches.
Explanations may include; Theories: Feminism, Marxism, Postmodernism, cultural
theory, control theory, etc. Concepts such as: Artefact, biology, chivalry,
deindustrialisation, femininity, focal concerns, gender stereotyping,
labelling, masculinity, self report studies, status frustration, subcultures,
etc. Studies such as: Adler, Alien, Box, Campbell, Carlen, Carrabine, Connell,
Farrington & Morris, Graham & Bowling, Heidensohn, Hood, Messerschmidt,
Pollak, Smart, Walklate,
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