GENDER SOCIALISATION AO1

• Socialisation is the process by which we learn the norms, customs, and skills necessary to participate in society. It has long been considered, by sociologists, to be a major reason for the gender differences seen in criminal behaviour.
• Sutherland (1949) suggests that boys are encouraged to be risk-takers and to be tough, whereas girls are not. During socialisation girls are more closely supervised and controlled than boys. In addition, our society expects girls to be more conforming than boys.
• These differences in socialisation become ingrained and lead to more young men becoming criminals as they have both the inclination and opportunity to commit more crime. Social Learning Theory suggests that we learn gender behaviour through observation and imitation of role models. For girls, the key role model is their mother and for boys their father.
• Cohen (1995) argues that girls have easy access to their mothers whereas traditionally fathers have been rather elusive role models as they are less frequently available for their sons. This leads to boys rebelling against the socialisation offered by their mother, especially if it leads to any typically female traits.
• In addition, boys pursue opportunities that offer them the chance to develop their masculinity. Boys and young men seek out male peer groups. ‘Masculine’ behaviours like aggression, toughness, risk-taking and rule-breaking are behaviours which may be rewarded by male peer groups and could lead to deviant and ultimately criminal behaviour.