10.1.5
Other Approaches
Feminism and Postmodernism
Feminism and Postmodernism
It is possible to understand crime from many different perspectives. Feminist and postmodernist theory result in different interpretations of crime and deviance.
Feminism
Feminism
- Feminists such as Heidensohn, believe that the study of criminology is ‘malestream’ as male theorists dominate the discipline and are obsessed with male crime due to its violent and exciting nature.
- According to official statistics, around 80% of all reported and recorded crime is committed by men.
- Furthermore, men make up around 95% of the prison population.
Postmodernism
Postmodernism
- Katz suggests that in most cases crimes are committed out of boredom and that criminals are seeking ‘thrills’ at any opportunity.
- He claims that different types of crimes bring different levels of thrill depending on their severity.
Examples
Examples
- Shoplifting is a low-level crime and therefore only provides ‘sneaky thrills’.
- Murder on the other hand is more severe and therefore the ‘righteous slaughter’ brings the biggest thrill.
Katz
Katz
- Katz believes this is the main reason why men commit crime in the postmodern world.
- Because traditional means of achieving masculinity are no longer available, many young men suffer from a lack of status and clarity with regards to their identity.
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
Jump to other topics
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring
Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home
Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs
30+ school subjects covered