Gender Crime Gap - Term Paper Example

Crime and Gender Crime and Gender A number of crimes that women commit are usually non-violent. In the past decade, there has beena decline in the percentage of female imprisoned on account of violent offenses. Social scientists make two observations, which link women to criminal activities. First, women persistently maintain reduced crime rate compared to the ones committed by their male counterparts. The rate at which men commit crime is higher in comparison to women, except in cases of prostitution. Second, insufficient extensive study in female crimes can explain the reduced rate of female delinquency. Great emphasis has been more on male criminality than female offenders. Gender and societal norms are among factors that attribute to gender crime gap and constantly regulate rate of crimes that women commit. Males as well as female usually commit crimes that involve substance abuse and property crimes. These kinds of crimes fall into the category of minor misconduct. It is vital to note that a number of crimes that are much serious in comparison to murder and robbery do exist. Crimes committed in the past few decades involved larceny, rape, and other minor misconducts. Trends are slowly changing, and the number of female criminality seems to be on the rise. Evans (2013) points that the number women arrested by police for law-breaking is par with that of men. However, it is essential to evaluate the kind and degree of crimes that each gender commits. It is astounding to note that the rise in female criminality includes crimes that involve forgery, fraud, as well as theft and not in traditional female crimes that include prostitution and child abuse. Gender Crime Gap Besides the above reasons that attempt to explain the disparity in male and female criminality, it is essential to consider emotional strength and societal norms. The perception of diverse individuals is that men are physically stronger compared to women. Thus, they are capable of committing crimes, which are violent. Gender norms dictated and sustained by society seem to influence lower crime rate of female criminality significantly. Composition of femininity is usually within varied discourses that circumscribe the behavior of a woman, as well as the association that she has with different individuals (Korcha et al., 2014). Several factors governing a woman’s experience include her mind, body, as well as her social interaction. Some individuals equate femininity with independence and self-control. Thus, a normal woman, is one who is selfless, nurturing and caring regarding the needs of others. Women normally receive sanctions that are positive for their ability to form and sustain relationships and accept family obligations. In addition, some individuals define women’s identity by the prominent men that live with them. Female stereotypes including submission, weakness and nurturance contradict the qualities esteemed in criminology. Crime is usually stigmatizing for female much more than it is for men. In addition, crime poses profound limitations on the life chances of female individuals. Women have particular societal expectations concerning their sexuality and physical appearance. Additionally, a number of women have the fear of becoming victims of crimes relating to sexual assault, which can make them avoid places such as bars. It is essential to note that threats of physical violence especially rape and domestic abuse influences women’s life in a great way. For this reason, the likelihood of women modifying their behaviors is higher than men since they fear victimization. Social Control Theory Present day studies establish social control as a factor contributing to the gender gap in criminology. Crime theory posits that crimes demand a combination of opportunity and low self-control. It easy for an individual to engage in a crime, hence crime opportunities are always present. Owing to the profound number of constraints leveled on women, their chances of engaging in criminal activity rely on low self-control. Thus, those that have low self-control are capable of gaining access to illegitimate or illegal opportunities. Characterizing Female Offender Socialization and moral development are features that vary between the female and male gender, thus, they can influence the development of these individuals into criminals. In diverse societies, there is teaching of young girls to emulate the good morals of their parents. This predisposes them to an ethic of care (Qureshi, 2014). Thus, this kind of ethic bars women from engaging in violent acts and other related behaviors that can harm others. Society teaches girls at the tender age to be afraid of separating or losing their loved ones. Such apprehensions deter the females from involving in criminal activities. On the contrary, society teaches young men to be status-seeking, which compels them to have a varied view of the world in which autonomy is crucial. Socialization of young men emphasizes independence, separation and autonomy as well as much goal-oriented and assertive than girls. Thus, this increases chances of men behaving violently. Social control, gender norms and other related factors discourage and prevent women to any access to criminal opportunities. For instance, there is less chance of employing women in particular jobs that can offer opportunities for them to engage in criminal activities such as theft and drug dealing (Lemelle, 2013).Examples of such jobs include carpentry and truck driving. It is noteworthy that certain jobs offer women then chance to engage in petty offenses. For instance, attempts to make a commission on sales can render a female employ into prison. A considerable disparity in crimes originates from the variation in the risk-taking styles and motivation of women and men. Women usually take profound risks to maintain treasured relationships, while men take risks based on competitive advantage or status (Dodge et al., 2013). For instance, women may engage in crimes that involve embezzlement of funds on account that they want to protect their relationships or families financially. On the contrary, men can engage in crimes constituting embezzlement on grounds that they want to protect their financial and social status. Women in Prison Some empirical investigations point the rising cases of women in prison. Therefore, this is a pointer of the increasing female criminality. Recent inquiry led by the Bureau of Justice Statistics demonstrates that increased cases of male imprisonment was due to offenses involving violence. On the other hand, the investigation disclosed that drug offenses led to the increased cases of women imprisonment (Lemelle, 2013). It is necessary to explore the reason for the increased number of women in prison on accounts of drug-related offenses. Some individuals conclude that policy changes within the criminal justice system attribute to this increase. Tough penalties for the offense of drug abuse contributes to the increased women imprisonment. The increased scrutiny of female conduct while on parole is also a factor that can contribute to the rise in such cases. In addition, some argue that increased cases of female imprisonment is because of the illegal likelihoods, which are open to women constitute the kinds of crimes that police investigate. These kind of offense encompasses welfare fraud as well as con games. On the contrary, a number of men are offered with the chances to engage in much discreet white-collar crimes such as product defects, false advertising as well as occupationally oriented frauds (Dodge et al., 2013). Thus, detecting such crimes usually has minimal chances. Traditionally, owing to the smaller number of females that are in a position of authority, women do not have a ready access to this kind of white-collar crimes. Hence, women usually engage in offenses that are insignificant and risky. Sociological theories are essential in illustrating how expectations and socialization for women and men contribute to the variation in their crime rates. Strain theory stresses that particular goals exist, which a society emphasizes on individuals. It posits that diverse individuals have unequal access to legitimate means of attaining the desired goals. Young men from lower-class families can achieve their goals and attain social status through illegal ways including theft (Qureshi, 2014). On the other hand, females from high-class have reduced chances of engaging in criminal activities because they have access to legitimate means of obtaining their goals. Conclusion The number of crimes that women commit is less than those committed by men. Key reason is the greater stigma that women offenders receive from the society, which deters them to engage in criminality. In addition, expectations, relationships, and gender norms prevent women from adopting criminal lifestyles. Traditionally, the means of a woman joining a higher social class depend on their personal characteristics. Thus, there is a high possibility for women to use this kind of method, which appears much legitimate to increase their social status. Additionally, women are less likely to achieve their objectives through criminal or illegitimate means that include blackmail and prostitution. Strain theory is useful in explaining lower crime rate among middle-class girls than boys from lower-class families. Thus, young men from lower-class families are likely to involve themselves in criminal acts as a mean of attaining their goals. Whereas women’s role in society has become less subservient compared to the past, immense gender disparity still subsists in almost every facet of society. Until this disparity ceases to exist, gender and societal norms still remain and will constantly regulate rate of crimes that women commit. However, a considerable accomplishment in the research and explanation of crimes committed by both gender must be appreciated. References Evans, C. M. (2013). Challenging “Unnatural Crimes”: The Connection between LGBTI Rights and Gender-Specific Sexual Violence Laws in Belize. Journal of International Human Rights, 11(2), 189–206. Korcha, R. A., Cherpitel, C. J., Witbrodt, J., Borges, G., Hejazi-Bazargan, S., Bond, J. C., … Gmel, G. (2014). Violence-related injury and gender: The role of alcohol and alcohol combined with illicit drugs. Drug & Alcohol Review, 33(1), 43–50. doi:10.1111/dar.12087 Lemelle, A. (2013). Gender, Race, and Homicide: Precarious Gesture and Bringing the Generalized Other Back In. Journal of African American Studies, 17(4), 546–565. doi:10.1007/s12111-012-9241-2 Qureshi, S. N. (2014). Understanding the Issue of Gender Discrimination as a “Crime” of Gender Apartheid and Placing Violence against Women at the Centre of this Matrix. South Asian Studies (1026-678X), 29(1), 91–101. Read More