(3) Social role theory: gender differences result from the contrasting roles of women and men…
To discuss if the criminal justice system is gender-biased, an understanding should be reached regarding what is meant by the term `gender`. The word gender can be difficult to define, and also how it differs from the term `sex`. Whilst the term `sex` refers to the psychological and biological physiognomies that describe men and women, the term `gender` (The Free online Dictionary) refers to the roles that society considers to be appropriate for men and women, such as activities and behaviours. Categories of gender are `masculine` and `feminine’ while sex categories are `male` and `female`. Some authors believe that the increase of females offending has increased due to the `masculinization` of women’s behaviour during the Women’s Liberation Movement in the 1970s, and is responsible for the increasing numbers of women committing crimes.(Heidensohn, 1989; Adler, 1975). Aspects of sex do not vary between human societies, but aspects of gender may be very different (Bryant and Trueman, 2000). Sex-stereotypes are said to be central to gender, which can be defined as the behaviours, attitudes, roles and beliefs that are passed from generation to generation…
“There should be no distinction between typical masculine and feminine occupations, and the traits of character should not be ascribed once and for all one gender.” said Malgarzata Walsh of krytyka.org. Stereotyping and gender roles have played a prevalent role not only in our modern society but throughout history. Webster’s dictionary defines gender or sex roles as “the behaviors, attitudes, and activities expected or common for males and females”. Gender roles have been defining societal norms for both males and females since the beginning of civilization. We view the “normal” to be submissive, emotional women who are useful for nothing more than cooking, cleaning, and staying home to care for the children; while men are looked upon as the proud, strong, manly, and sole provider for the family. While in recent years, certain people and organizations have been working hard to cease the use of these stereotypical roles, they are still very common throughout television, film, literature, and advertisement.…
Gender discrimination is quite pervasive in our society. Schools, childcare institutions, family, media, and other societal institutions transmit and preserve stereotypes regarding women and men. In the Western societies, conventional gender traits are frequently related to power – men and their specific activities are classified as influential, public oriented, important, brave, productive, strong, outgoing, and having increased value, social recognition, and monetary rewards. On the other hand, it is widely believed that the main traits of women include; family-oriented, caring, dependent, and passive.…
Gender roles are associated with the norms, or standards that are created by society. These roles have surpassed the expectations of what our grandparents and ancestors were accustomed to. Men are viewed as strong, aggressive, and dominant; while women are viewed as nurturing, passive, and subordinate. The changes have impacted the world in great form by defying the odds in household duties, education, and work.…
By evaluating the various structures and its functionality it provides, the function of gender contributes to the stability of our society. Specifically gender roles assign the responsibilities of women and men. In social role theory the gender stereotypes arise from historical occupations such as men being the breadwinner and women being the homemaker. In order to be in harmony with this perspective it is that women and men become active participants of these gender stereotypes in the workforce (Rudman & Phelan, 2010, p. 192). Stereotypes are learnt through the socialization process and influence stereotypical characteristics and roles. Interestingly enough Rudman & Phelan (2010) suggest that women exposed to non-traditional gender occupations,…
“In a monumental 1972 decision by the US Supreme Court, all but a few death penalty statutes in the United States were declared unconstitutional” (Radelet & Borg, 2000, page 1). Four years later the Supreme Court reversed its course toward abolition by approving several newly enacted capital statutes. By 1999, there were “some 3500 men and 50 women on death rows in 38 states and two federal jurisdictions” (Radelet & Borg, 2000, page 1). The author describes how there has been fluctuations in the general population opinion regarding the death penalty since its reintroduction in 1976. While the majority of the American public supports the death penalty, recent studies have shown that this support has diminished a little.…
Regardless of its precise causes, the effects of high incarceration rates on inequality are now substantial. Although the…
Capital punishment throughout history has had many faces in our society. In the early twentieth century capital punishment was viewed as an integral part of the criminal justice system. In the United States alone approximately thirteen thousand people have been legally executed sine the colonial times (ACLU, 2003). By the 1930's up to 150 people were executed yearly, because of various legal challenges the execution rate was almost zero by 1967. In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court banned the practice of capital punishment, citing the death penalty as it was practiced, cruel and unusual punishment arbitrarily administered by the courts and thus unconstitutional in Furman v. Georgia (Costanzo, 18). In 1976, in Gregg v. Georgia, the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty stating that under guided discretion the courts again could impose capital punishment for crimes such as murder with special circumstances (Costanzo, 21). Since having the death penalty reinstated in 1976 by the Supreme Court, society has a whole still favors capital punishment, but because of the nature of the punishment there is still a split among society as to the appropriateness of the sanction. In today’s society there are those that are apposed and there are those that are in favor of the death penalty, but the majority still views capital punishment as a staple in the criminal justice system. Public opinion polls show approximately seventy percent of the U.S population currently approves of the use capital punishment (ACLU, 2003). Even with a high approval rate among the population in the United States there is still a large population of people with religious arguments against capital punishment, catholic society by the nature of humanity and evolution has realized that capital punishment is less and less a moral and ethical punishment for capital crimes such as murder. In examining the history of the Catholic Church and the Catholic Church’s moral teachings in regards to the death penalty…
Capital Punishment is viewed as a political viewpoint that has pro’s and con’s by the American people. Capital punishment is known as the “The Death Penalty” and is identified as the premeditated and planned taking of a human life. The government views this as a response to a crime committed by a legally convicted person. The question is The Death Penalty just and applied fairly? The argument against Capital punishment can include the following; Amnesty International, who believes that “The Death Penalty” is the cruelest denial of human, rights (White, 2009). The pro’s state that, “Capital punishment gives society the right and duty to protect the innocent in self-defense.” The Death Penalty gives closure to the victim’s families who have suffered so much. Some families may never recover from the cruelty of the crime, and most families just want closure. Most Americans and people from different countries such as; china, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan agree with capital punishment. White stated, “I believe that it sends the wrong message: Killing people who kill people to show killing is wrong (White, 2009). Therefore, is it just and applied fairly is the question that is asked, should we kill because some kill? I believe that we are sending a message to promote killing, is it fair for some and not for others.…
Women are rarely placed onto death row. There may be many different reasons for this. Statistics show that there are only 51 women on death row currently and this constitutes to 1.5% of the total death row population (www.deathpenaltyinfo.org). The reason for this is women may be looked at very differently from men. They are looked at as mothers and that their children need them. They are looked at as homemakers and are thought of as having to take care of the home. They are looked at as the “weaker sex”. Traditionally women are not thought of as being as strong as men.…
The civil discussion acquires after it’s discovered that a convicted murderer, whom was released from prison, has killed again, or when an innocent person escapes the death chamber. The process is revealed in clear, great detail as the experts present their reasons for or against capital punishment. Questions like “ Does the imposition of lesser penalties, such as life imprisonment, truly serve justice in cases of the worst offences?” and “Does the legal system discriminate against poor or minority defendants?” are often asked, making their arguments. The contributors use their experience working on death penalty cases to create…
I do not support capital punishment because it is against humanity, human rights and forgiveness. Human life is so valuable that even the worst murderers should not be deprived of the value of their lives. It is the cause of family hardships and suffering. It is not a proper way to re correct a mistake. This assignment paper explores why people should stop using capital punishment. Capital punishment is a revenge rather than retribution and as such is a morally dubtful concept.…
In a society of numerous irregularities it is necessary of a rule of law when serious offenses are committed upon people. Those serious offenses are of different magnitude, but the ones that do violate fundamental and crucial social codes and laws are those who in some cultures should be paid with the ultimate price, life. And because of very bitter situation, many people find themselves in either supporting or opposing such action. When arguing about the issue of death penalty, we touch a very sensitive issue for the decision-makers in a country, since it is an irrevocable action taken for the preservation of social order. This problem has been considered an issue for decades. People have tried to argue about it from the aspects of morality of such an action. Death punishment has been so accepted by people in the past, to the extent that the execution of the sentenced people was done in public. This phenomenon was considered as the right action since at that time it was supported by religion as well. The society has evolved since then in many aspects, and the degree of civilization of human kind is the main element that is pushing people to analyze further the sentence of capital punishment. By no doubt, a person who commits a capital crime deserves a higher punishment than someone who is engaged in a minor crime such as pickpockets. The question is whether that punishment should be death penalty.…
This documentation continues by adding, that all humans shall be treated with dignity, respect and refrain from cruel punishment. It is for this reason, many see the death penalty as an immoral and unnatural act against human beings. Government officials stand firm to the belief that the death penalty deters the number of criminal. However, due to an absence of scientific and literary reports these findings are false. According to research, the death penalty has little to no effect on the solution to those convicted of violent crimes (Capital Punishment, 2011).…