CRIMINOLOGY

Does criminology tell us enough about the experiences and actions of women?

Does criminology tell us enough about the experiences and actions of women?

Introduction

Criminology is a term referred to the study of offensive or criminal behavior together with the causes and factors of crime. This vast area of study also addresses the social impact of any crime on the criminal, the victim and his or her family (Agnew, 1992, pp.29). Studies reveal that not only men but women also participate in various forms of crimes, however, criminology is deemed as the most masculine domains of social sciences study (Smart, 1976. pp.75). Most of the theory and research focused around the learning of the male offending and the responses of the criminal justice system to male offenders. While on the other hand, the invisibility of women criminals remain in part since females are usually regarded as unimportant in the field of criminology due to lesser significance of their most frequent crimes (e.g. prostitution, property offenses) (Brown, 2001, pp.128). Thus, the sociology of Crime and Deviance is inclined to focus primarily on men. Hence, in this paper, we will discuss whether criminology tells us enough about the experiences and actions of women or not?

Discussion

Throughout the 20th century, criminologists have widely studied the aetiology of criminal participation by individuals. These studies verified that approximately 80% of criminals are men whereas the other 20% are women, who are widely ignored in majority of criminological theories (Campbell , 2002, pp.145). The male domination in the subject of criminology is highly criticized by Frances Heidensohn, who is considered as one of the pioneers of feminist perspective. She suggested the following four reasons behind it:

1. Since, majority of criminals are men, therefore for many sociologists it would make sense to pay attention on the majority rather than women criminals who belong to the minority.

2.The topics of investigation in sociology reflect a male vision and interests. Since, it was generally the case that the mainstreams of academics were males.

3.Explicit identification i.e. What interest men is what is considered and applied to offense since their interest lies in the trivial and thrilling lives.

4.Male sociologists proposed their theories without thinking that how they could be applied to females. Majority of the conventional theories are 'gender blind', which means they disregard the particular viewpoint of females. (Heidensohn, 2006, pp.131).

Hence, majority of sociologists believe that criminology does not focus on women criminals and this clarification has emerged from one of the two viewpoints: one that females are basically involved in fewer crimes, or that females are involved in as many crimes as males but they stay out of sight (Alder, 1977, pp.101). At the same time as the later rise has discovered some experimental support that females are treated more mildly and not severely by courts for instance most studies are not succeeded in discovering this to be the scenario and proposes that the employment of strict sentences, like imprisonment, can actually be rising excessively for females next to the rate of use for ...