Criminology Theories: Defining Crime

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of feminist approaches to crime prevention?

Labelling theory and its implications on gender norms

Simple solutions to crime through populist measures

Institutional and societal reform, and the empowerment of women and girls (correct)

Punishment and incarceration

Which perspective assumes that crimes are socially defined and implicated in systems of hierarchy and power?

Marxist

Feminist (correct)

New Right

Labelling Theory

What is the primary characteristic of New Right criminology?

A conservative approach to crime, emphasizing punishment and deterrence (correct)

A focus on institutional reform and empowerment

A critical examination of the definition of crime

An emphasis on digital crime and its implications

Which perspective does not have a primary focus on the definition of crime?

New Right Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'us' versus 'them' approach related to in the context of New Right criminology?

The virtuous and law-abiding vs. the criminal and destructive Signup and view all the answers

What is the essence of populism in the context of New Right criminology?

Reaching out to ordinary people through simple solutions Signup and view all the answers

What does Marxist feminism explain relative to the existing mode of production?

All forms of oppression including racism and sexism Signup and view all the answers

What is a critique of feminist criminology?

It neglects the role of individual choice Signup and view all the answers

Which approach to criminology focuses on the social context of crime and criminality?

Feminist Criminology Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between Feminist Criminology and New Right Criminology?

Feminist Criminology is structuralist, while New Right Criminology is individualist Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a perspective mentioned in the text?

Digital Crime Signup and view all the answers

What is a goal of Feminist Criminology?

Challenging sexist domination in the criminal justice system Signup and view all the answers

What do Marxist and Feminist criminology have in common?

They focus on broader structural relations Signup and view all the answers

What is the central concern of Marxist Criminology?

The existing mode of production and its impact on society Signup and view all the answers

What do Feminist Criminology and Marxist Criminology share in terms of their perspective?

A critical view of power and social relations Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the school of criminology that views crime as a consequence of social and economic conflict?

Social conflict theory Signup and view all the answers

According to Marxist and Feminist criminology, what is the role of marginal position in gaining critical insight?

It provides an epistemic advantage in understanding societal structures Signup and view all the answers

What is a common concern of both Marxist and Feminist Criminology?

The distribution of economic and social resources Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Feminist Perspectives on Crime

Crimes are socially defined and implicated in systems of hierarchy and power relative to gender norms and practices in society (patriarchy)
Feminist criminology approaches the topic of crime and criminality through a social/structural lens
The focus of analysis is not on the individual but on determinative social relations

Crime Prevention Strategies

Feminist approaches include institutional and societal reform, and the social, economic, and political empowerment of women and girls
New Right approach focuses on deterrence, punishment, and incarceration

New Right Criminology

Defined as a political orientation rather than a systematic theory
Generally considered to reflect a conservative approach to crime
Incorporates both a populist dimension (related to the political process) and an academic one
Takes an 'us' versus 'them' approach (the virtuous and law-abiding vs. the criminal and destructive; the citizen vs. the criminal)

Types of Feminism

Liberal feminism: associated with 1st wave feminism, sees the solution as removing institutional barriers to equal opportunities
Marxist feminism: explains all forms of oppression relative to the existing mode of production (including racism and sexism), and so the solution lies with overturning the capitalist system
Radical feminism: takes a structural approach as well as an intersectional approach to explaining the experiences of women in a patriarchal, racist, and colonialist society

Implications of Feminist Criminology

Pros: challenging sexist domination in the criminal justice system, highlighting the experiences of women and girls, offering a critical approach to explaining criminality and toward crime prevention
Cons: may fall into the 'structuralism trap' through negating the role and power of individual choice, and how it deals with issues related to gender, class, and colonialism

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the different perspectives on defining crime, including the individual choice approach and the feminist perspective that implicates systems of hierarchy and power. Test your understanding of criminology theories and their implications on our understanding of crime.