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DEBUNKING THE THEORY OF THE FEMALE 'MASKED CRIMINAL'

NCJ Number
55439
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 23-42
Author(s)
J C SCUTT
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE THEORY OF POLLAK ON FEMALE DEVIANCE IS ANALYZED IN RELATION TO CERTAIN FORMS OF UNREPORTED CRIME, AND THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME COMMITED BY MALES AND FEMALES IS COMPARED.
Abstract
POLLAK CONTENDS THAT THE LOW OFFICIAL CRIME RATE OF WOMEN DISTORTS THE TRUE PICTURE OF CRIME. HE FOCUSES ON UNREPORTED CRIME WHERE HE BELIEVES THAT WOMEN PLAY A LARGE ROLE. AREAS OF ESSENTIALLY UNDISCOVERED CRIME COMMITTED BY FEMALES INCLUDE WHITE COLLAR CRIME, CRIMINAL ABORTION, PROSTITUTION (PATRONAGE OF PROSTITUTES AND LIVING FROM THE PROCEEDS OF PROSTITUTION), SEX CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST MINORS, RAPE, CHILD ABUSE, VIOLENCE WITH SPOUSE (PROVOCATION AND SELF-DEFENSE IN FAMILY DISPUTES), VIOLENCE AND THE USE OF ARMS, POISONING AS A WEAPON, CHILD KILLING, CHILD THEFT, AND SHOPLIFTING (DOMESTIC THEFT). EVIDENCE RELATED TO POLLAK'S THEORY THAT WOMEN ARE MORE DEVIOUS THAN MEN IS NOT CONVINCING. MEN, JUST AS WOMEN, HAVE NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMISSION OF UNDETECTED CRIMES. SELF-REPORT STUDIES INDICATE THAT BOTH MEN AND WOMEN COMMIT CRIMES THAT ARE NEVER DISCOVERED. MANY AREAS OF SO-CALLED FEMALE CRIME, WHERE WOMEN MAY ACT AND ESCAPE LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES, INVOLVE MALE ACTORS AND ESCAPEES AS WELL. IN NUMEROUS CASES, FIELDS IN WHICH WOMEN ARE SAID TO BE ESCAPING ARE AREAS OF NONSERIOUS CRIME. DEVIANCE IS NOT RELATED TO SEX; IF POLLAK'S THEORY WERE EXTENDED TO MALES, IT MIGHT BE FOUND THAT MALE STATISTICS ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN FEMALE STATISTICS IN TERMS OF KNOWN AND UNDISCOVERED CRIME. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)

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