Crime Against Women and Challenges to Overcome Them

Gender and Crime Sex is commonly used to describe the innate biological characteristics of humans constituting their femaleness or maleness. Gender on the other hand, covers the social characteristics and usages associated with one sex or the other. Since such roles and customs can vary and be modified it follows that masculine and feminine the terms applied to the respective genders are much more flexible than female and male. In order to cover the subject of gender and crime it is important to explain its prehistory and standing as well as addressing the extensive material which appeared in the modern

Throughout history, women have continuously found themselves as the subjects of oppression. Although the treatment of women has drastically changed over time, women are still exposed to much of the violence that exists today. Per the National Organization for Women, “young women, low-income women and some minorities are disproportionately victims of domestic violence and rape” (National Organization for Women, 2016). Women-centered violence is highly prevalent and reoccurring all over the world, even in our local communities. Individuals may be hesitant to consider just how much violence against women affects their communities.

There have been many changes in the treatment of offenders by the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales, particularly the treatment of female offenders. The handling of women within the criminal justice system has been closely tied to their social characteristics, and to what might be described as their ‘social construction’. On the other hand, women who compromise more than half of the world’s population, account for only 15% of criminal activity and as a consequence, relatively little attention has been given to them. This essay will explore how this has changed from a historical point of view to modern times, with exploration from cross-culture comparisons and an overview of the treatments of females in prisons.

Another negative effect of gender inequality is the increased fear of violence for women. Women are often portrayed as weak and helpless beings that can easily be taken advantage of. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon states that, “Violence against women and girls continues unabated in every continent, country and culture. It takes a devastating toll on women’s lives, on their families and on society as a whole. Most societies prohibit such violence –yet the reality is that too often, it is covered up or tacitly condoned” (Unite to End Violence Againist Women, 2006). Violence against women in the form of rape, spousal abuse, child abuse or spousal killing has become routine behavior over the years, so it rarely even makes the news anymore. “Women aged 15-44 are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, motor accidents, war and malaria, according to World Bank data”( Unite to End Violence Againist Women, 2006). Women are often blamed and questioned about their actions if they become the

Millions of adults each year in the USA are affected by intimate partner violence (IPV). “The National Violence Against Women (NVAW) survey conducted from November, 1995 to May, 1996 indicates that each year an estimated 8.5 million intimate partner victimizations occur among the US population ages 18 and older” (Fang & Corso, 2008, p. 303). “As recognition of IPV as a serious societal problem increases, more attention has been directed to risk and protective factors for IPV perpetration, especially the link between child maltreatment, victimization and future perpetration of IPV” (Fang & Corso, 2008, p. 303). More than 80 percent of all victims are maltreated by one or both parents. Several studies have found that children who have experienced child maltreatment (neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse) are more likely as adults to conduct IPV. Of these children, 54 percent suffered neglect, while almost a quarter, 23 percent, suffered physical abuse and nearly 12 percent of the victims were sexually abused (Fang & Corso, 2008).

In history women and girls’ experiences as offenders and victims have been left out of criminal studies. According to Joanne Belknap, Author of The Invisible Women: Gender, Crime and Justice, many theories before the 21st century state that women offenders are only deviant in criminal behavior due to a result of biological forces. Stereotypical theories such as Anatomy as Destiny (Sigmund Freud), The Unadjusted Girl (Thomas), Behind the Mask (Pollack), are all early 1800 stereotypical male chauvinist theories to explain why women become deviant. Throughout history it is well known that the culture of women and the feminist movement had begun essentially in the late 1800s. Even until today, somehow the study of women offenders and equal treatment still is lacking. In the 1800s, society viewed women as more stricken, to act ladies and always protect their Chasity. While this view was widespread, there were women in the 1800s who acted quite opposite and decided to live a life of deviant behavior and criminality. The duo Cattle Annie and Little Britches are the definitive illustration to platform women criminality in the 1800s. Deemed as the youngest outlaws in American history, Cattle Annie and Little Britches make history after turning their innocent teenage years into an outlaw infatuation. In this paper we will review how that infatuation led them to join outlaw gangs, becoming career criminals, and eventually being jailed for their offences and how it relates to

Female Criminality consists of several outdated statistics regarding the rise of female offending. However, in viewing the current research on the subject, it appears that the overall theme of this dissertation's discussion is still relevant despite changes in the accompanying statistics as seen in viewing the following topics: the rise in female offending; the continual rise that females are committing more crimes than men; and the types of crimes that women are committing. In viewing Bruce Gross's 2009 article, "Battle of the Sexes: The Nature of Female Delinquency," as well as Elizabeth Cauffman's 2008 article, "Understanding the Female Offender," one can begin to see where current statistics regarding the female criminal lie.

Domestic violence refers to the “Pattern of abusive behaviour through which a person seeks to control and dominate another person” in the home (Domestic Violence Resource Centre 2013). Although it is most commonly assumed, domestic violence doesn't always entail physical abuse but can also include sexual, emotional, social, spiritual and economic abuse. Throughout the world domestic abuse, particularly toward women, is a prevalent issue, in Australia alone, one out of six women and one out of twenty men have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15 (ABS 2013). Despite a number of legal and non-legal mechanisms in place to prevent and protect women of domestic violence and facilitate them after the fact, it can

According to Lilly, Cullen, and Ball (232) Feminist theory has been on the back burner of modern criminology until the late 19th century. As with the other criminology theories there are many thoughts and ideas on why females commit crimes. In the beginning the theories seem to revolve around the victimization of the female gender. Then criminologist took a look at female delinquency, prostitution, and gender inequality in the criminal justice system. Lilly (233) wrote that Lombroso used physiological traits to determine what type of women would commit crime. Lombroso also argued that the women that committed the most crime were more masculine then the women who did not commit crime. He used physiological immobility, and passivity to make the argument. Lilly (235) also wrote that Sigmund Freud believed the reason women committed crime was because they has “penis envy”. Since women were physical different than men, women would become more aggressive trying to act like the male counterpart in order to fit in with the status quo.

This discussion about women as victims and defendants was insightful. There is a lot I did not know when it came to women in the criminal justice system. As a male myself I could not see it from a women’s point of view. It is funny how a man actually was up there explaining to us what women go through while in the criminal justice system. I think it is really significant when someone advocates for someone, or a group who is not affected by their injustice. Dr. Joseph P. Conti presentation was very good. His teachings on women as victims and defendants were intriguing. His lecture on how Pennsylvania laws changed over the years, when it had to do with women was fascinating. His merits showed he knew what he was talking about. This felt like a class I really would enjoy attending. Dr. Joseph lecture on Monday gave an extension to our class in Victimology.

Kaya & Cook (2010), discusses how a well-known Nation started a major movement which targeted violence against women. Empowerment of women is a key source in violence intervention. Previously the traditional role of a woman was to known as a homemaker. Educated women were rare to find. As society is growing, women have received more political and social rights and feel more empowered. Women who have access to work and education gain a greater chance of escaping male violence (Kaya & Cook, 2010). Factors are education, income, age, drug abuse or abuse history. Prevention tactics at this level are often considered to stimulate attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that in the end reduce violence. Kaya & Cook (2010) also

Feminist criminology was created out of the realization that criminology from its beginnings focused on the male criminal and the unlawful acts they committed. When in the fact it could be argued female crime was studied as far back as 1800's, female criminal activity, its causes and the effects in which it placed on public opinion were often disregarded. Over the past 20 years, there has been a significantly different approach in how females are being dealt with inside the criminal justice system. This has been the result of a more broadening law enforcement effort, stringent medication sentencing laws, and post-conviction limits to reentry that would greatly influence females.

Tong (1989) states Radical feminist only have to ask such questions as “who rapes whom?,” who batters whom, “ for whom does pornography exist, for the ultimate answer to the question to be, men!

This study sought to determine the perception of the residents on the social acceptability of the various forms and prevalence of violence against women. The study supposed that when people perceived the various forms of violence against women as socially acceptable, their prevalence tends to be high.

Violence against children is a phenomenon happening worldwide, in forms of physical, psychological violence. Children are deprived of care, basic social services, health care and education, child abuse, neglect, exploitation, forced to beg, trafficked. Children are still one of the social groups at risk, facing many problems that remain unresolved. Although the consequences may vary according to the type and severity of the violence, the short and long-term consequences for children are very often serious and destructive and are costly. The laws that protect children’s rights are often not effective.