Gender, Crime

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Gender, Crime JusticeDr. Michelle Meloy
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Why the Big Fuss about Gender?

• To understand how womens experiences as
  criminals, victims, and professionals differ from
  male experiences in the criminal justice system,
  we have to see these issues through a different
  lens
• This different lens places sex and gender at the
  forefront

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How is Sex Different than Gender"?

• Sex includes biological chromosomal differences
  between males and females
• Gender is made up of socially transmitted
  messages of what it means to be a real man or a
  real woman.

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Sexism

• Sexism and patriarchy influence the definitions
  of appropriate gender behavior
• If someone is discriminated against or viewed in
  a certain way because of their sex or gender it
  is prejudicial sexism
• Usually, women are the targets of sexism. But men
  can be too!

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Patriarchy

• Patriarchy is a mindset (or way of thinking about
  how society should function) that is combined
  with social, legal, and political power
  structures that operate to ensures mens
  superiority over women
• Patriarchy is grounded in the belief that the
  differences between the sexes are purely
  biological (Gods wish) void of social creation

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Societal Images of Women

• Pawn of Biology What if she has PMS and goes
  crazy?!
• Impulsive Non-Analytical She is illogical and
  decision-making is emotionally driven
• Passive Weak She is a follower, not a leader.
  Easy target for victimization
• Impressionable Naive and easy swayed by the
  thinking of others
• Athletic or Active Male-like unfeminine, sexual
  deviant-criminal
• Criminal Woman She is pure evil. Crime is worse
  for women
• Madonna-Whore She is either good or bad

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Societal Images of Women of Color

• The Amazon She is violent
• Sinister Sapphire Vindictive, deceptive
• Mammy Uneducated, non-intellectual, bothersome
• Seductress Sexually promiscuous untrustworthy
• Purely negative societal images suggests
  essentialism does not exist. All women are not
  treated equally or experience life similarly

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Sex vs. Gender

• How might definitions and distinctions between
  gender norms influence womens crime, womens
  victimization womens experiences in the
  criminal justice system?

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Gender Socialization Where does it come from?

• Biological determinism was the beginning of the
  idea of separate spheres
• Separate spheres dictated mens work from womens
  work
• Men and women were judged by their compliance to
  these rules
• These ideas are not as strong as they use to be
  but their legacy continues

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Gender Socialization and Crime

• How might gender socialization help explain why
  men commit the crimes they do and why women
  commit the crimes they do?

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Criminological Theories

• Crime theories provide a way to study crime. They
  are not absolute truths but are educated
  guesses backed by science
• Theories are validated or discredited with
  theoretical research
• Does one crime theory fit all?
• Some theories might be a better fit to understand
  the causes of some crimes while other theories
  might do more to help us understand yet different
  behaviors

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The Social Construction of Crime Its a Crime
Because We Say So!

• Legislation common law define what is
  criminal behavior
• Legal categories distinguish minor crimes from
  serious crimes
• These categories and definitions vary
• Legal definitions also distinguish crimes by
  victimization (i.e., crimes against persons
  versus crimes against property)