A higher proportion of females are convicted of property crime (except burglary)
Males are convicted of more serious crimes, including violent and sexual crimes
Why do some sociologists argue that official stats underestimate the amount of female crime?
As female crime is les likely to be reported, for example shoplifting is less likely to be reported than violent crime by men
And even when women’s crimes are reported they are less likely to be prosecuted
What is the Chivalry thesis?
The idea that women are less likely to be prosecuted for their offences
Who is the theorist for the chivalry thesis?
Pollak
Farrington and Morris
What did Pollak argue about the Chivalry thesis?
He argued that men have a protective attitude towards women, so are unwilling in to arrest Harte, prosecute or convict them.
What does Pollak suggest under-represents womens crime?
Offical crime statistics so it gives an invalid picture
What is the evaluation of Pollak?
Pollak is saying that women are positively labelled by male agents of social control as a result of their socialisation
What research methods can be used as evidence for Chivalry thesis?
Self report studies
Official stats
How can self-report studies be used as evidence for Chivalry thesis ?
As it shows that female offenders are treated more leniently
and it shows that males commit more offences. The more serious the offence the greater the gender gap
How can official stats be used as evidence for Chivalry thesis?
As it shows that females are more likely to receive a fine than go to prison
What were some statistics Hood used?
He studied over 3000 defendants and found that women were about 1/3 less likely to be jailed in similar cases
Compared to men, women are more likely to be cautioned rather than prosecuted
What evidence did Farmington and Morris find?
They found that women were not sentenced more leniently for comparable offences.
Does male crime get reported?
Not many, for example, the crimes of the powerful and rape (Corporate crime is committed by men)
Do feminists think the CJS is bias?
They argue that it is not biased in favour of women but against them, especially when they go against gendernorms (motherhood and monogamous heterosexuality)
What does Hiedensohn suggest about bias against women?
He notes the double standards of courts punishing girls, but not boys, for promiscuous sexual activity
What does Walklate suggest about bias against women?
He says in rape cases Its the victim who is on trial, trying to prove her respectability, only then will her evidence be accepted
What does Carlen suggest about bias against women?
He found that the Scottish courts were more likely to jail women whose children were in care, than women whose they saw as good mothers