Class and Gender Deals

• Carlen 1988: study of 39 wc women convicted of a range of crimes. Most convicted for serious crimes were wc. 
• Hirschi 1969 - Control Theory: Carlen adapts control theory where humans act rationally and are controlled by being offered a ‘deal’. 
• Wc women generally conform for two types of rewards: 

  1. Class Deal - women who work offered material rewards
  2. Gender Deal - patriarchal ideology promises material and emotional rewards for family life 
• IF REWARDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, CRIME BECOMES MORE LIKELY 
• 32 always in poverty 

  Many experienced problems and humiliation when collecting benefits 

  Some abused physically and sexually 

  ½ spent time in care or homeless
• Carlen: ‘crime was the only route to a decent standard of living. They had nothing to lose and everything to gain’. Concludes that poverty, care and an oppressive family life were the main causes of their criminality. Drug, alcohol addictions and a desire for excitement were contributory factors.