Role of Informal Social Control in Gender Specific Crime and Criminal Activities, Especially Women - Essay Example

Role of informal social control in gender specific crime and criminal activities, especially women. Introduction Rokeach, of Sociology in Michigan University in 1968, said that behavioral pattern of the people directly correlates with the values and value system of the person and his environment. This very system is often responsible for promoting gender differences between men and women that can be observed in daily life. Hence the informal social control, exerted by various social paradigms, help promote gender specific projected roles. These roles are adapted in the lifestyle of the people through the ages, very often leading to crime and criminal activities to assert their identity or simply to defy the stagnant values that have been imposed on the gender. The research would study the differential rate of gender specific crime under various environmental imperatives. Problem Statement The religiosity of a particular strata of society or the social structure of that region, contribute to the way people respond towards socially relevant issues and gender inequality. The socio-economical environment and political leanings promote orthodoxy and fanaticism. Patriarchal society endorses male domination that deliberately cast women in the inferior roles and restricts their personal and social development to compete with their counterparts on equal terms. Women, especially in the current time, adopt ways and means to exhibit their independence and empowerment through actions that sometimes cross-over into criminal activities. It can be one the reason that explains criminal activities amongst women. It therefore has become important that the study must be conducted to evaluate and assess the impact of changing environment on the differential rate of offending amongst men and women. Purpose of the study The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of environmental factors on the crimes and criminal activities of women. Research questions 1. To what extent the informal social control is responsible for increased involvement of women in crime? 2. Are women the target or the victim of the crime, especially when they are vulnerable target of socio-cultural values? Hypotheses The culture is the most dominant factor that has significant impact on the perceived roles of men and women. ‘Boys will be boys’ the famous adage is a prime example of communication behavior that is appropriate for boys but which would not be suitable for girls. Lakoff (1975) argues that women experience linguistic discrimination in two ways: in the way they are taught to use language and in the way general language usage treats them. It makes it easier for men to commit crime than women. Thus, while the differential rate of offending may be higher for men, the increasing involvement of women into crime and criminal activities has become worrisome and needs to be analyzed and studied for factors that significantly contribute towards the changing behavioral pattern. Variables used In the study, criminal behavior was the dependent variable and the cultural, socio-economic and psychological factors became the independent variables while studying the impact of shopping during the festive season. The impact of technology like use of computers, mobiles etc. would also be studied, taking into account the pattern of shopping by genders which act as independent variables. Framework of study The study would be conducted taking into account the conceptual model as well as the theoretical model. The study would be looking up to establish relationship between the variable to predict the factors that lead for increased criminal activity amongst the women. Research theories and Study design The research study conducted was quantitative in nature but encompassed elements of qualitative research also so that better and more accurate conclusions could be achieved. Social learning theory of Bandura (1975) would be used. Bandura proposes that human beings respond to environmental and personal/cognitive factors like culture, belief etc. Bronfenbrenners Ecological Theory (1979) would also be tested for its significant contribution in the field of developmental psychology. Bronfenbrenner emphasizes that human development is constantly influenced by the various environmental system. The study design would primarily be cross sectional and look at informal social control leading to increased offences committed by women. Since the research involved the study of impact of technology in the crime, California jail inmates would be chosen who are found to be skilled user of technology and thereby an ideal as a model of study. Research procedure Sample size would consist of 70 respondents. Questionnaires as study instruments would be used mainly because they provide a fair means of interacting directly with the users. The samples would be selected by carefully considering all aspects of consumer traits and background like people of mixed gender who exhibit marketing tendencies and are open to new ideas and technologies. Confidentiality clause would make sure that the information and details given by the respondents are kept confidential. Analysis of data The statistical analysis of the data would be used to show tendencies and traits of men and women with regard to criminal activity, thereby helping to predict the future trend and prospects of gender specific crime with relative accuracy. Threat to validity and measures to reduce bias The study design would incorporate the two important threats to the internal validity. The first would be the probable lack of maturity of the respondent who might prefer the use of technology as a means of social status and not really as an effective way of conducting crime while shopping. The second threat could be the under developed infrastructural support to the technology in use which could imbibe distrust among the offenders for the tech gizmos. Threats to the external validity may comprise of the problems in the study to promote an accurate and unbiased results. In this case, some of the sample respondents may manipulate their responses so as to appear more computer savvy. The other threat could be the lack of available resources which could impede the execution of technology deals and hence create unnecessary bias in the respondent(s). Efforts would be made to identify such respondents to reduce bias. Extraneous variables are those variables that might affect the correct interpretation of the data collected in the survey. In the present study, they might be those responses that are deliberately misinformed to the investigators. It therefore becomes the responsibility of the investigators who choose the respondents to take special care while the questionnaires are being filled by the respondents. (1036) Reference Bandura, A. (1975). Social learning and personality development. Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston: NJ. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Lakoff, Robin.(1975). Language and Womans Place. New York: Harper & Row. Rokeach, Milton.(1968). Beliefs, Attitudes, and Values. Jossey-Bass Inc Pub. Read More