Masculinity and Crime

• Parsons sex role theory


  argues that men and women act differently because they are better at different things.

  Women are better at empathy and thinking, but men are better at 'doing' and being decisive.

  Because of this, men commit more crime.
• evaluate parsons sex role theory

  "New man" in recent years this version of masculinity has been replaced. the new man is more empathetic and family orientated and adopting traditionally female characteristics thus cancelling out parsons sex role theory
• what is retributive masculinity?


  radical feminists believe that some men, unable to be successful as a 'new man' and resenting the success of women in modern society, adopt an old-fashioned form of masculinity.

  This may explain violence, especially violence against women
• redundant masculinities - lisa mcdowell


  McDowell argues that a shortage of job opportunities and academic success for working class men has led to a return to old masculinities.

  This means men believe they should be the heads of their families, and should be more important than women.

  This may lead to misogynistic attitudes to women.
• what did james messerschmidt believe


  that men may commit crime as a way of developing hegemonic masculinity.

  E.g. if they don't have a job they may use crime as a way to accomplish that aspect of masculinity.
• describe Winlows "badfellas" research


  Winlow's research of bouncers in Sunderland linked employment shift to masculinity.

  Bouncers found that they could 'achieve' masculinity through the use of force (both legally and illegally) and through other criminal activities, like dealing drugs on the doors of nightclubs.
• what does winlow argue about traditional sources of masculinity?


  working class men no longer have the traditional sources of masculinity available to them, because this they may commit crime as a form of achieving that masculinity.
• domestic violence statistic


  73% of "domestic homicide" victims are women, compared to 83% of non-domestic homicides being men. 92% of perpetrators are men.