NCJ Number
60805
Journal
Kriminologisches Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 241-247
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FEMALE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR PERPETUATED BY MALE AND EVEN FEMALE RESEARCHERS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
AS SEVERAL ILLUSTRATIONS FROM ANALYSES OF WOMEN'S CRIMINAL MOTIVES AND TREATMENT IN COURT SHOW, THE SUBJECT OF WOMEN'S CRIMINALITY IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED UNIMPORTANT. MALE INTERPRETATIONS SUGGEST THAT THE ROOT OF FEMALE BEHAVIOR IS TO BE FOUND IN BODILY COMPLAINTS, I.E., PATHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION, RATHER THAN IN WOMEN'S SOCIAL SITUATION. ANALYSES BY WOMEN, ON THE OTHER HAND, TEND TO BE MORE SUBJECTIVE: THE POINTS OF DEPARTURE ARE ABORTION AND PROSTITUTION. MORE IDEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATIONS VIEW PROSTITUTION AS AN ACT OF EMANCIPATION, IGNORING THE DEVIANT ASPECT. ALTHOUGH SUCH A THESIS MIGHT BE APPLIED TO FEMINISTS WHO HAVE IMPROVED THEIR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION, IT IS NOT RELEVANT TO FEMALE CRIMINALS. NEVERTHELESS, THE EMANCIPATION THESIS HAS BEEN TURNED AROUND IN TERRORISM DISCUSSIONS TO DISCREDIT ANY MOVEMENTS TOWARD SOCIAL CHANGE. FURTHERMORE, IN MORE RECENT LITERATURE THE VICTIM-OFFENDER ROLES OF WOMEN ARE CONFUSED WHEN THE TOPIC OF RAPE IS DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT OF FEMALE CRIMINALITY, THUS IMPLYING A DENIAL OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. A SHIFT HAS BEEN OBSERVED, HOWEVER, IN JUDGMENT OF CERTAIN CRIMES COMMITTED BY WOMEN: ABUSED WOMEN ARE BEING DECLARED INNOCENT IN CRIMES AGAINST ABUSIVE HUSBANDS, NOT BECAUSE OF FEMALE FEEBLEMINDEDNESS, BUT BECAUSE OF MALE VIOLENCE. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT STEREOTYPED BIOLOGICAL-PATHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF FEMALE DEVIANCE MUST BE REPLACED WITH THEORIES NEWLY FORMULATED BY FEMALE CRIMINOLOGISTS. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)