The Feminist Criminology- Lecture Slides, Slides of Criminology

Download The Feminist Criminology- Lecture Slides and more Slides Criminology in PDF only on Docsity! Feminist Criminology SOC 112 Feminist 1. Feminist theory - a spectrum of arguments - of causes / reasons for - related primarily to gender - inequitable treatment of women a. Socially structured categories of gender - shape relations between men / women - in the workplace - organized family life - unofficial norms Feminist a. Recognition of feminist perspective - in dealing with social issues - criminal justice system b. Governmental intervention is necessary - create opportunities - female empowerment - female equity (1) Colleges - certain percent of female applicants Feminist (2) Education and females - viewed as important mechanism - to achieve goals of equality (3) EEOC – 1972 - Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - cannot discriminate 3. Radical feminists - women’s burden in reproducing humankind Feminist - basis for oppression by men a. The Dialectic of Sex (1970) – Shulasmith Firestone - traces way inequality perpetuated - institutions of marriage / family b. Advances in birth control - abortion / safe childbirth techniques - material means for women’s freedom Feminist a. Consider a career their right - if they should choose one (1) Demand / get equal pay / equal work (2) Acquire positions of power in business - as well as government (3) See themselves as equals - inside / outside the home Feminist b. Basic concept of feminist ideology - equality - made great strides towards that end (1) Changes seen: - criminal justice system - military - government - schools (undergraduate / graduate) 6. Feminist criminology Feminist - important contributions to discipline - not simply study female offenders - address broad range of issues a. Example - examine / question traditional theories - question male-centered biases - gender is relevant - to understanding men’s / boy’s lives - as well as women / girls Feminist (2) Theories derived from study of women - applied to study of men? - say male studies applied to women - notion: women subcategory of men 7. Gender and crime - except prostitution / shoplifting / welfare - males commit more crimes at all ages a. Uniform Crime Report (UCR) - arrest ratio: 4 to 1 Feminist (1) Personal crimes of violence - involving single offender - att. murder / rape / robbery / assault - 83% of victims = offender as male (a) Property crime - 82% = male (2) 1963: females = 15.3% of arrests - today: 30.5% - female arrest rate much lower Feminist - rate of increase much faster (3) Self-Report Surveys - patterns / causes: male-female crimes - becoming more alike (4) Social / economic roles of women - changed in the legitimate world - participation in crime also changed - temptations / challenges / stress - have been subjected to Feminist - closely associated with - socioeconomic position in society (1) Association between gender and crime - recognized area of concern - growing body of research - deal with contemporary criminological issues 8. Social theories - utilized to explain male criminality Feminist - little attention given to female offenders - until 1950s a. Why? - smaller percentage of offenders - most crimes do not pose serious threat (except prostitution) - not viewed as serious social problem (no prison riots in female prisons) (1) Female crimes are increasing Feminist - but violent crimes are rare - executions of women not common b. Attempts to explain female criminality - opportunity / women’s liberation - conflict - feminist theories (1) Opportunity / Women’s Liberation - have become liberated - participated more extensively/equally Feminist (a) Women held in traditional roles - subordinate to fathers - subordinate to husbands - stay at home / bear children (b) Conflict was created when: - broke out of traditional mold - caused by economic structure - other conflicts - conflict with the social system Feminist (c) Radical criminologists believe: - criminality: capitalist system - denies women equal access to economic advantages of men (3) Feminist theory - dominance of men over women - patriarchal society - impact on crimes by / against women (a) Feminist scholars look at: Feminist - female victimization - treatment by the CJS (b) How rape victims treated - by police / courts / prosecutor - defense of “spousal abuse” is relatively new 9. Feminist criminality - variations in crime/victimization rates by sex - vary with social characteristics Feminist - disorderly conduct / vandalism (b) Girls under 18 - theft / simple assault / run away - disorderly conduct / liquor laws (c) 2.3 times as many boys arrested - girls becoming more like boys Feminist b. Violent crime arrests - murder / robbery / aggravated assault - rape not included (1) 1963: 7.9% female - 2005: 19.5% (a) Minor crimes / lesser felonies - numbers skewed - less likely to be reported to police Feminist (b) Status offenses - more likely girls arrested - gender-role behavior - expected to be “well behaved” (2) Adult arrests (2005) - 3.4 times as many men as women - higher ratio for juveniles (a) Murder: 88.4% / 11.6% (b) Rape: 98.5 / 1.5