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Chapter 9
Women, Crime and Deviance
Early Theories
• 1) Attributed crime/deviance to biology (brain
differences, psychological differences).
• Those earlier theories were biologically
reductionist and deterministic.
• They exclude deviant acts that “gentlemen”
engage in like adultery, going to prostitutes,
white collar crime, etc.
Sociological Theories
• Deviance defined:
• 1) Deviance is an action outside social norms
• 2) Deviance involves a labeling process
• 3) What is label “deviant” involves gender,
race/ethnicity, class and other power relations
• For example, pornography…Is looking at it deviant?
Which porn? By whom?
Example
• 1) Why would financial executives who caused
the current financial crisis BALK at forgoing
bonuses?
• 2) Why do we arrest prostitutes but not the
John’s who see them?
Feminist Theories
• 1) Some acts are considered deviant when
committed by women but not men. Think of
examples.
• 2) We tend to focus on victims or aggressors
without trying to understand the social context
that creates this dichotomy.
Women as Criminals:
• 1) Women tend to engage in shoplifting, credit
card debt, bouncing checks…Why?
• 2) Female criminals tend to be subject to
“Reproduction of harm”
• 3) Judicial system is less likely to prosecute
women as harshly as men for crimes defined as
“female” but are more likely to prosecute
women harshly for crimes defines as “male.”
Typical Woman Prisoner
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•
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* from
Erin Heil slide
Black
30-34 years of age
Convicted of drug offense
Held in CA or TX
Lacks access to diverse education, vocational or other
programs.
• Male facilities provide men more opportunities….
Women as Victims
• Although men are most likely victims of crime,
when women are victims, men tend to be
aggressors.
• Victims:
• 12-19 year olds
• African American
• Men are more likely victimized by strangers
• Women are more likely victimized by people
they know.
• Not until 1990s that date rape, domestic
violence and martial rape became social
problems.
Rape
98% of rape victims (according to survey) are women, why?
Only 39% of those raped report it, why?
Causes of rape:
1) Socialization -- Men taught that sexual aggressiveness is
legitimate form of expression. Women taught it’s their fault.
2) Political-Economic Status --Women are more likely to be
raped in societies where they are metaphorically are actually
perceived as property.
3) Subculture of violence: gangs (including fraternities)