Other Approaches
Sociology: AQA A Level, topic 10.1.7
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
- 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
- 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
- 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 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.
Test yourself on Other Approaches
According to Katz, what would be considered a low-level crime and therefore only provide ‘sneaky thrills’?