An introduction with regard to important issues of female crime, the reliability and validity of official crime statistics, and the relative contribution of men and women to the crime rate by referring to authoritative research.
ESSAY 1: IMPORTANT ISSUES REGARDING FEMALE CRIME
According to statistics, there is a lower official crime rate of female criminality than male criminality. An
official crime rate is made up of crimes reported to the police, information received from courts, information
of arrest made by police, and information emanated from correctional services, just to name a few. There is
insufficient attention given to the fact that females offend less than males and no one does research to find
out why this is so. Feminists argue that it is just another example of the invisibility of women in society.
Female criminality is a neglected field of study in South Africa. There is not enough research done on this
subject which is the main reason that no new theories are developed to understand female crime.
Criminology is a very patriarchal field, which can widely be seen in criminology theories. These were mainly
formed to understand male criminality. There are two schools of thought on the absence of female
criminality theories. The first school states that we should take what we have and apply theories that we
already have to this knowledge. The second school, which is primarily influenced by feminists, argues that
we need to develop new theories on this theme.
Topics of women as victims, including wife abuse, rape, and sexual harassment were studied by scientist
only in the 1970‟s because women started to come forward. As a result of this knowledge, women were
treated with sympathy and people could identify with these women as victims. All women could identify
with the victims. There were also changes in legislation as a result, laws against marital rape among other
things.
In the same time, women as offenders were also discovered. These women were however not easy to
identify with or to sympathise over. A main reason for this is the gender role expectation that is placed
women and how we socialise women. A woman‟s role is to be caring, nurturing, and warm - female
criminals go against this expectation. Some say that female criminals are „double‟ problematic, as they break
written laws as well as break unwritten gender roles.
Questions:
Why is female offending not a “hot topic” for research?
Internationally, this has changed. But in South Africa it remains the same
Many say that we have an overwhelming male criminality problem and there are not enough researchers to study
both female and male crime, so they focus on the bigger problem
Feminists argue that people are just not interested, as women are “invisible”
What types of crime do women commit?
80% of women that murder/kill their intimate partners or children
Economically motivated crimes make up 50% of female crime according to statistics
Drug and alcohol abuse is an NB defining factor in female offending
Are women becoming more criminal?
Statistics doesn‟t show that this is a fact
Are women treated differently by the CJS?
Perception that they‟re treated “softer”, but it‟s only in certain circumstances (depends on crime committed)
Question of race is also a factor
, KRM 320(A) UNIT 1 : INT RODUCTION
ESSAY 1 SUMMARY
Statistics depict lower official crime rate of female criminality than male
Official crime rate: crimes reported to police, info received from courts, info of arrests by police, info
emanated from correctional services
Insufficient attention to fact that females offend less = no RES done to find out why
Feminists argue it‟s another example of invisibility of women in society
Female criminality = neglected field of study in SA
Not enough RES done = reason why no new theories are developed to understand female crime
Criminology is a very patriarchal field = widely seen in theories as they were mainly formed to understand
male criminality
2 schools of thought on absence of female criminality theories:
1st school states we should take what we have & apply theories already existing
2nd school (mainly influenced by feminists) state we need to develop new theories on this theme
Topics of women as victims (wife abuse, rape, sexual harassment) studied by scientists only from 1970‟s
as women started to come forward
Result of knowledge = women treated with sympathy & people identified with them as victims
All women could identify with victims
Also led to changes in legislation = laws against marital rape among other things
At the same time = women offenders were discovered
Not easy to sympathise/identify with
Main reason = gender roles expectation placed on women & how we socialise them
Woman‟s role is to be caring, nurturing, warm = female offenders go against expectation
Some say female criminals double problematic = break written laws & break unwritten gender roles
Few questions criminologists are interested in (U SE THROUGHOUT ALL ESS AYS) :
Why is female offending not a hot topic?
Internationally it has changed = SA remained the same
Focus on male criminality due to overwhelming male problem = not enough researchers to study both genders
Feminists argue people aren‟t interested = women are „invisible‟
What types of crime do women commit?
80% of female murderers kill intimate partners & children
Economically motivated crimes = make up 50% of female crime
NB defining factor in female offending = drugs & alcohol
Are women becoming more criminal?
Statistics don‟t illustrate that they are
Are women treated differently by the CJS?
Perception that they‟re treated softer (only in certain circumstances)
Depends on the type of crime & question of race is also a factor
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