Gender, Ethnicity & Social Class in Crime

• Gender, ethnicity, and social class correlate with crime and victimisation rates.
• Crime statistics vary based on gender, ethnicity, and social class.
• Patterns related to these social categories are evident in official statistics and self-report studies.
• There is debate on whether these patterns reflect real differences in offending and victimisation or biases in the criminal justice system.

Gender Differences in Crime

• Official statistics reveal significant differences in crime rates between males and females.
• Across most crime categories, men commit a higher proportion of offenses than women.
• Self-report studies support these differences, suggesting female offending is under-reported in official statistics.
• Biological, psychological, socialisation, gender roles, and social control factors explain gender differences in crime.
• Functionalist sex role theory links different socialisation to different crime types.
• Boys are socialised to be aggressive, risk-taking, and competitive, potentially leading to crime.
• Girls are socialised to be nurturing, compliant, and empathetic.
• Heidensohn argues that women are closely controlled, resulting in fewer crimes.
• Women face greater social expectations to conform and stricter surveillance.
• Carlen's study of working-class women found they commit crimes when they feel they have nothing to lose.
• Adler argues that as women become more liberated, they will commit more male crimes.
• Messerschmidt suggests crime is a way for men to assert masculinity.
• Men may commit crimes to demonstrate dominance and control.
• The rise of female crime and its increasing violence is debated.
• Some researchers link changes in female offending to shifting gender roles and opportunities.
• Increased reporting and prosecution of female offenders may account for perceived increases.

Ethnic Differences in Crime

• Official statistics show some ethnic groups are over-represented in the criminal justice system.
• Black individuals are more likely to be arrested, charged, and imprisoned compared to white individuals.
• Asian individuals are under-represented in some crime categories compared to white individuals.
• Explanations for ethnic differences in crime are contested.
• Some theories attribute differences in offending rates to real differences in behavior.
• Others claim differences result from systemic bias and discrimination within the criminal justice system.
• Left realists attribute differences in crime rates to real differences in offending.
• Poverty, social exclusion, and family structure may lead to higher crime rates in some ethnic groups.
• Lea and Young attribute racism to the marginalisation and relative deprivation of some ethnic minorities.
• Disproportionate targeting and racial profiling by the police affects certain ethnic groups.
• Stop and search tactics disproportionately affect black individuals.
• The Macpherson Report concluded that the police were institutionally racist.
• Neo-Marxists view ethnic minority crime as resistance against capitalism.
• Hall et al. argue that the media and politicians use Black crime as a scapegoat.
• The validity and reliability of crime statistics in reflecting ethnic differences in offending is debated.
• Some researchers believe statistics are socially constructed and reflect biases in the criminal justice system.

Class Differences in Crime

• There is a long-standing association between crime and social class.
• Traditional stereotypes link crime to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
• Official statistics suggest working-class individuals are more involved in certain crimes.
• Self-report studies indicate a more even distribution of crime across social classes.
• Middle-class individuals are more likely to commit white-collar crimes.
• Sociological perspectives explain class differences in crime.
• Conflict theories highlight the role of inequality and power in shaping crime patterns.
• Marxism views crime as a product of capitalism.
• Ruling class uses the law to control the working class and protect their own interests.
• Labelling theory suggests working-class individuals are more likely to be labelled as criminals.
• White-collar crime is often ignored or treated leniently.
• Strain theory links crime to frustration and alienation from lacking opportunities to achieve mainstream goals.
• Merton argues that working-class individuals are more likely to experience strain.
• They may turn to crime as a means of achieving financial success.
• Control theory states individuals with strong social bonds are less likely to commit crimes.
• Hirschi argues that working-class individuals have weaker social bonds.
• They are therefore more likely to engage in crime.
• The relationship between social class and different types of crime is debated.
• Some researchers argue that the focus on street crime obscures white-collar and corporate crime.
• Traditional measures of social class may not adequately capture the complexities of inequality.

Victimisation

• Victimisation refers to the experience of being a victim of crime.
• Victimisation patterns vary across different social groups.
• Age, gender, ethnicity, and social class influence the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime.
• Young people are more likely to be victims of certain types of crime.
• Men are more likely to be victims of violent crime.
• Women are at greater risk of sexual assault and domestic violence.
• Individuals from minority ethnic groups and lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to be victims of crime.
• Theoretical perspectives on victimisation differ.
• Positivist victimology focuses on identifying victim characteristics that make them vulnerable to crime.
• Critical victimology examines structural factors that contribute to victimisation.
• Media can influence public perceptions of victimisation.
• Sensitivity around reporting certain crimes against certain people.
• Concerns about the impact of crime on victims have led to victim support services.
• Victim support provides emotional, practical, and legal assistance to victims of crime.

Explore the correlation between social factors like gender, ethnicity, and social class with crime and victimization rates. Sociological research reveals crime statistic variations across these demographics. Analyze patterns from official statistics and self-report studies, considering potential biases in the criminal justice system.