Criminology Homework: Analyzing Gender and Crime Theories (2024)

This homework assignment delves into key concepts in criminology, focusing on the theories of James W. Messerschmidt and Meda Chesney-Lind. The assignment presents multiple-choice questions based on required readings, requiring students to select the best answer and provide concise explanations. The first question examines Messerschmidt's critique of Jefferson's psycho-social analysis of male criminal behavior, emphasizing the significance of power dynamics and intersectionality. The second question explores Chesney-Lind's perspective on the 'masculinization theory' of crime, which addresses the potential for equal access to criminal behaviors for women. The provided explanations for each answer demonstrate an understanding of the theories and their critiques, referencing the provided readings to support the analysis. This assignment offers a comprehensive overview of gender, crime, and the application of criminological theories.

Complete multiple-choice question based on the required readings and
explain your answer within 100-150 words.
1. In Chapter One ‘Theory’ from Crime as Structured Action: Doing
Masculinities, Race, Class, Sexuality and Crime (2013), James W.
Messerschmidt critiques Jefferson’s psycho-social analysis of male
criminal behaviour. Which of the answers below best captures why
Messerschmidt rejects Jefferson’s thesis?
Select one:
a. Violence is not always a result of men’s experience of anxious-
powerlessness, nor should masculinity only matter in crimes where
violence occurs between men
b. Jefferson’s psycho-social analysis of crime doesn’t assume that
men’s experience of anxious-powerlessness is the root cause of all male
crime, just violent crime.
Explanation: This criticism emerges from the fact that, there is actually
scant discussion of gendered power relations in Jefferson’s theory.
Moreover, it has been observed that the phenomenon of intersection of
power with race, class, sexuality, and crime has not been elaborated
understandably in Jefferson’s theory. It is primarily due to this lack of
focus on power that Jefferson has diminished power’s importance and has
argued that social meaning is the outcome of available discourses and not
of social structures (based on power differences). Moreover, as Jefferson
has assumed that social structures are bound to disappear into a plethora
of discourses; the meaning, importance, and essence of power has been
lost. Hence, Jefferson’s theory can be criticized from the perspective of
undermining the potential of power relations.
c. Jefferson’s reification of gender as it relates to violence is
acceptable, however his failure to look at a diversity of criminal
behaviours and genders is not.
d. Criminal masculinity is discussed by Jefferson not only as it relates
to men, but also in relation to women and girls.
2. Meda Chesney-Lind’s 2006 article ‘Patriarchy, Crime, and Justice:
Feminist Criminology in an Era of Backlash,’ discusses the masculinisation
theory of crime which argues that the equal rights gained by women
through feminism will now allow women equal access to criminal
behaviours once dominated by men, for example violent crime. Which
answer best represents Chesney-Lind’s view on the ‘masculinisation
theory’ of crime?
Select one:
a. Masculinsation theory is problematic for its reification of gender.

Explanation: Media have deconstructed the image of feminism by
reconstructing the image of female criminals in such a way that it might
seem that females are gradually equating male criminality. And such
gradual rise in the rate of female-instigated crimes is the outcome of
feminism. Such a notion, although being wrong, has been continually
promoted by different media houses backed by the patriarchal socio-
political system. In this respect it must be noted that, “Although arrest
data consistently show dramatic increases in girls’ arrests for “violent”
crimes (e.g., arrests of girls for assault climbed an astonishing 40.9%,
whereas boys’ arrests climbed by only 4.3% in the past decade; Federal
Bureau of Investigation, 2004), other data sets, particularly those relying
on self-reported delinquency, show no such trend” (Chesney-Lind, 2006).
b. Masculinization theory is problematic as it interprets crime statistics
incorrectly and promotes a racist and classist culture of surveillance
within the criminal justice system in relation to young girls
c. Masculinization theory has its benefits insofar as it accurately
captures the increasing violence of young women
d. Masculinisation theory is problematic for its primary assumption
that feminism has achieved equal rights for women today
References
Chesney-Lind, M. (2006). Patriarchy, Crime, and Justice: Feminist Criminology in an Era
of Backlash. Feminist Criminology, 1(1), pp.6-26.
Messerschmidt, J.W. (2013). Crime as Structured Action : Doing Masculinities, Race,
Class, Sexuality, and Crime. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ProQuest Ebook
Central.