Criminology Essay: Feminists Criticism of Criminological Theories of Crime

                                 Feminists Criticism of Criminological Theories of Crime

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                                        Feminists Criticism of Criminological Theories of Crime

                        With the increased crime rate in the country in recent years, it is understandable that much focus would be put on criminological theories of crime. The notion behind these theories is to understand why criminals behave the way they do. However, feminist criminologists argue that criminological theories have historically focused on the male experience. This perception might be true, especially considering the societal and cultural roles allocated to females throughout history. Various criminological theories could be used to show the truth or fallacy within this feministic claim, including biological, cultural transmission, psychological, routine activities, self-control, social construction, social control theory of crime, social learning, and strain theories of crime. Indeed, seeing how women are treated by a society that expects them to be good, kind, and pure, it is probable that feminists are right in the claim that criminological theories are based on male experiences.

                          Firstly, the biological theories of crime are perceived to be based on the male experience more than it does the female. Biological theories of crime assert that criminal behavior is far from a person’s control but instead is infused within a person’s individuality. Factors such as XYY chromosomal syndrome, hormones, minor physical anomalies, birth complications, brain development and plasticity, and mental health issues have been brought forth to explain the source of criminal behavior (Crawford, 2014). However, this theory has failed to include women. A woman’s biology is far different from that of a man. As such, if the biological theory of crime is to be supported, it should be inclusive of female and male biological causes of crime. Some studies suggest that there is a relationship between temporal lobe epilepsy and violence (Crawford, 2014). Though this might be the case, it can be argued that the studies have been conducted mostly on men than on women. To show the truth in this claim, it is right to view its origin. The theory was developed by Cesare Lombroso in the 19th century (Wickert, 2019). During these times, males were the center of studies. Masculinity was common then, and understandably, criminal studies would be focused on males than both genders.

                           The cultural transmission theory of crime is yet another theory that has received criticism from feminists. This theory posits that criminal behavior is learned from peers. According to Holt (2009), “culture is primarily transmitted to individuals through intimate peer groups and across generations to provide support or encouragement for actions that may be unacceptable in the larger society” (5). Though this theory has some good claims to the cause of crime, it does not take into consideration the cultural experiences of women. Throughout history, women have had it rough with the cultural system that has demanded they be subject to men. Therefore, their cultural experiences are not the same as those of men. The values taught to women, and the notions they collect due to exposure to society differ from those of men. The cultural theory of crime has failed to consider the differences in cultural experience between men and women, therefore highlighting a gap in approach to crime.

                       Feminist criminologists claim that the psychological theory of crime does not encompass women and instead focuses on male experiences. Among the psychological theories of crime is the psychodynamic theory, which could be used to show why feminists think that criminological theories focus on male experiences more than females. This theory is based on the belief that personality is unconsciously developed early in childhood (Moore, 2011). The ID, the ego, and the superego make up the psychodynamic theory. Imbalances between these factors lead are said to lead to delinquent behavior. However, factors associated with women’s psychology, which is different from men's, are not considered in the analysis of crime. Regarding the psychodynamic theory, this theory disregards the differences in experiences between the girl child and the boy child. Though these two genders may undergo similar situations, a girl usually processes the events in her childhood quite differently from a boy. This theory and others under the psychological theory of crime have gaps regarding the psychological causes of crime.

                             One of the most cited theories of crime is the routine activity theory, but it, too, has gaps regarding its approach. This theory is divided into the motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a suitable guardian (Miro, 2015). A motivated offender is a person who can and is willing to commit a crime. The motivated offender, therefore, has to have the mental and physical requirements needed to commit a crime. A fallacy is presented here, in that by physical abilities, a person who is willing to commit a crime has to be physically strong. This notion is anti-feministic because of the notion that women are physically less strong than men. Indeed, to commit most crimes, strength is a necessity, and since women are not as strong as men, this theory would suggest that women are incapable of committing crimes, which is certainly not the case. A suitable target is typically one who can be damaged or threatened as easily as possible. Often, women fall under this category because they are at a disadvantage in terms of physical strength. Indeed, this theory focuses more on male experiences with crime than women.

                        The social control theory has been cited as one of the most unconventional criminological theories of crime. In this theory, it is thought that people are born as bad apples. As such, systems such as the law and government are put in place to control people and bond them in a way that ensures they turn out to be good people (Crawford, 2014). These societal constraints are thought to be important factors in controlling how a person turns out. However, this theory can be seen as faulty because women receive more control than men. Indeed, the constraints placed on women are more severe than those of men. This theory fails to credit the differences in control placed on women and men.

                       Feminists criticize the social learning theory of crime for its increased reliance on male examples in its studies. The social learning theory of crime posits that through components such as imitation, differential reinforcement, definitions, and differential association, crime and deviant behavior can be learned (Brady, 2017). Again, this theory is faulty regarding its approach to the situation. In this theory, the use of a male-dominated perspective idealized male criminals, as well as the athletic and gregarious traits of men. Consequently, this theory disregards female traits regarding crime, as well as their experiences in societal settings.

                    The social construction theory of crime describes crime as a consequence of interpretive meanings and perceptions created in people’s minds (Przemieniecki, 2017). Society becomes what people make of it. People give meaning to certain actions as wrong or right, depending on similarities in the meaning of said actions and behaviors. This approach can be seen as faulty because of the twisted meaning of what is right or wrong for a woman to do. From this theory, it can be said that women have fewer opportunities to commit crimes because of what people make out to be right and wrong regarding how they should act in certain situations. Furthermore, certain actions are termed as rightful to men and wrong to women, and vice versa. Therefore, feminists criticize this theory because it fails to account for the differences and specificity of the meaning of right and wrong regarding men's and women’s actions.

                         The strain theory is also one of the most renowned theories of crime, and it too contains fallacies regarding its consideration of women. According to the strain theory, certain stressors in life, whether emotional, physical, or social, cause negative emotions that build pressure on corrective actions (Jang and Agnew, 2015). As such, some people opt to commit crimes and adapt deviant behavior as a response to these stressors. Feminists think that this theory disregards women by betraying a double standard. The strain theory creates the notion that for a man, committing a crime is “normal,” contrary to when a woman commits a crime, whereby it is viewed as a “weakness.” Furthermore, the strain theory creates the notion that women are facilitators of crime without the capability of committing a crime themselves. Therefore, the strain theory is seen as male-oriented because it discredits women as capable of committing crimes without having to be “helpers.”

                     As discussed, most theories on criminological behavior have historically focused on the making experience. These theories have failed to factor in women’s experiences in society, which are always different from those of men. Women generally face more difficult circumstances regarding societal expectations of how they should act and who they should be, which makes it easier for them to commit crimes and result in deviant behavior. However, criminological theories have failed to account for this. Therefore, it is recommended that a review of the meaning of criminological behavior be made and both genders are involved in defining these theories.

                                                                    References

Brady, C., 2017. Social Learning Theory. 10.1002/9781118524275.ejdj0188. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Caitlin_Brady5/publication/321167448_Social_Learning_Theory/links/5cab75d592851c64bd587583/Social-Learning-Theory.pdf

Crawford, M., 2014. Social Control Theory. 10.13140/RG.2.1.2360.7847. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michelle_Crawford3/publication/275154441_Social_Control_Theory/links/5533f3820cf20ea0a0769896/Social-Control-Theory

Holt, T.J., 2009. Cultural Theories. Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195396607/obo-9780195396607-0009.xml

Jang, S.J., and Agnew, R., 2015. Strain theories and crime. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sung_Joon_Jang/publication/275271730_Strain_Theories_and_Crime/links/59de2161a6fdccc2e0f4f41d/Strain-Theories-and-Crime.pdf

Miró, F., 2014. Routine activity theory. The encyclopedia of theoretical criminology, pp.1-7. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fernando_Miro-Llinares/publication/328839261_Routine_Activity_Theory/links/5be5baf892851c6b27b295ac/Routine-Activity-Theory.pdf

Moore, M., 2011. Psychological theories of crime and delinquency. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 21(3), pp.226-239. https://is.muni.cz/el/1423/jaro2015/SPP209/um/2_Moore_2011_Psychological_Theories_of_Crime.pdf

Przemieniecki, C., 2017. Social Construction of Crime. 10.1002/9781118524275.ejdj0109. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chris_Przemieniecki/publication/321165939_Social_Construction_of_Crime/links/5ca1e49592851cf0aea587eb/Social-Construction-of-Crime.pdf

Wickert, C., 2019. Biological Theories Of Crime. [online] SozTheo. Available at: https://soztheo.de/theories-of-crime/biological-theories-of-crime/?lang=en  [Accessed 4 August 2020].