As mentioned in item B, there is a significant difference in crime statistics today as men are far more likely to commit crime. However, the liklihood of females committing crime has risen since the 1950’s the ratio of female to make crime used to be 11:1 and is now 4:1, suggesting women are committing more crime than in the past. As item B says, the great difference may be due to the way the criminal justice system works, as Pollack would argue. However, Messerschmidt,
Winlow and Parson would argue the difference is simply due to different values. Heidensholm’s
Patriarchal control focus’s on why women commit less crime than men; he argues women have less chance to commit crime as they are controlled by men in three spheres; work (the threat of sexual harassment and glass cieling preventing them from committing corporate crime), public
(the threat of gaining a reputation) and home (the threat of domestic violence). Heidensholm argues that by controlling women in this way, men limit womens oppertunities to commit crime and force them to conform to the traditional expressive role, valuing femininity and caring for the family. However, this view could be seen as outdated. It could be argued women have more freedom today, due to an increase in single parent families and organisations such as the
Womens Aid Federation. If Heidesholm is saying men force women to conform to traditional stereotypes, it does not explain why the crime rate for women has increased. Pollacks chivalry thesis asserts the view that the difference in the crime statistics mentioned in item B are a result of womens treatment within the criminal justice system: Pollack argues men are socialised to value paternalism and to act in a caring and protective way towards women; for this reason, Pollack argues women are more likely to be let off with a caution, while men are more likely to