Lower Levels of Convictions of Woman for Criminal Offences Essay

Assess explanations that sociologists render offered for lower levels of convictions of woman for wretched offences Sociologists defecate offered explanations for lower levels of convictions for woman for cruel offences. For deterrent example wo manpower argon treated much leniently and woman atomic number 18 socialised to chip in slight crime in the first place. nigh crime appears to be committed by hands. According to recent bailiwick statistics men atomic number 18 four times more seeming to commit a crime than woman. For example official statistics suggests there argon sexual practice differences in the types of crimes committed such as men committee hot crime and woman committee shoplifting. One explanation for the lower levels of convictions of women is that they argon treated more leniently. One explanation that has been put forward is that the agents of criminal justice such as police officers, magistrates and resolve are men and men are socialised to act in a gallant manner towards women. In the mid-fifties Pollack argued that men felt they had to cling to women, so the criminal justice system is more lenient towards them.So there are some crimes that are less likely to outlaw into official statistics. This then does not give an accurate understanding in rates of offending and official statistics will show the extent of grammatical gender differences. Women are also more likely than men to be cautioned quite a than prosecuted. For example, the Ministry of justice figures for 2009, show that 49% of female offenders were cautioned compared to only 30% of men. sympatheticly Hoods study of over 3,000 defendants found that woman were round one-third less likely to be jailed in similar cases. However, there is evidence against the chivalry thesis. Box argues women who commit serious offences are not treated more favourably than men. He argues women show self-reproach which may be wherefore they get cautioned rather than going to c ourt. Heidensohn argues that in fact when women commit more serious crimes and deviate from expected norms of conduct they are punished more harshly.For example stereotypical gender determinations do work judges decisions. Heidensohn accepts there has been an increase in female crime still its due to poverty and being socially marginalised. Walklate argues that in assault case it is often not the defendant who is on trial unless the victim. Steffensmeier argues that women are treated more leniently in court because judges are reluctant to separate woman from their children. Another reason that could let off lower conviction rates for women is that they are socialised to commit less crime in the first place. Functionalists argue that lower levels of females crime stern be explained by gender role socialisation and the expressive role that curates argues is the one that women take on within the home. While men go out to work and take the instrumental role as provider, women a re socialised to be gentle and nurturing. Parsons argues that boys reject feminine role models they work in what Parson calls compensatory compulsory masculinity and perplex aggressive and anti-social behaviour which can slip over into an act of delinquency.Cohen argues that boys that are more likely to join gangs to gain stats and identity. Whereas the girls have their mothers as role models which means they are less likely to behave in anti-social ways. However, critics of the sex role supposition are that this view is dated and boys and girls have different role models and influences in their life to the ones illustrated by Parsons. Walklate criticises sex role theory for its biological assumptions. Parson assumes that women are best suited to the expressive role as women gave parenthood to children. Feminists are interested in how patriarchal society controls women, and this control faculty explain lower levels of criminality and therefore lower conviction rates. Heidensohn argues the intimately different thing about womens behaviour is how conformist it is as women commit fewer crimes than men. Heidensohn notes that women are controlled in a number of ways. For example women are controlled by the amount of time they have to spend aspect after home and children.Also in the public domain women are controlled by the threat of male violence especially sexual violence. The Islington iniquity Survey found that 54% of women avoided going out alone. This therefore reduces their fortune to offend. However Carlen explains how some women commit crime when they are let strike down by patriarchal society. It is the failure of patriarchal society to deliver the promised wields that removes the controls. Cohen argues that works class women are led to conform by what she calls the class deal which is being offered rewards at work that allow a good quantity of victuals. Also the gender deal where women have rewards from family life by living a normal domestic gender role. Critics argue that this underplays the importance of fall by the wayside will and choice in offending. Adler argues that as society changes so women may turn to crime.He uses the liberation thesis to argue that as women become liberated from patriarchy female crime rates will rise. As society changes so too have womens roles within it. at that place is evidence to support this for example female offending rates have risen. However, critics argue that female crime rates started growing in the 1950s before the womens liberation movement. In conclusion, the main reason why there are lower levels of convictions of women is because the criminal justice system is more lenient towards women. This is due to men protecting the women and official statistics show that men are more likely to commit crime than women.