Gendered contexts and gendered pathways are the two most recent trends in criminology. They suggest that gender will be hugely included in mainstream criminological theories.
Gendered pathways strategy scrutinizes the developmental courses and life experiences, which involve females as opposed to males (Wesely 305). This approach resembles the life course strategy. There are mainstream approaches that recognise the close association between somebody being an offender or victim. These include the presence of anger in the general strain theory and the depression that an individual experiences when he is a victim.
The force makes the individual appear more of an offender. These are perfect illustrations of the gendered pathways. However, it is worth noting that these are regarded as more descriptive as opposed to explanatory. Gendered pathways deal with the trajectories that lead to criminal activities. Moreover, there is a concern for the social contexts and factors that promote entrance or distancing from crime, in addition to how these are gendered (Wesely 315).
On the other hand, the gendered context strategy handles the variations in men and women socialization experiences. The approach also assesses the opportunity variations that each of the groups has, too involved in miscreant behaviour. Depending on whether an adolescent has been socialized femininely or masculinely, the delinquency route differs significantly.
Gendered pathways possess the greatest promise for elaborating the differences in women criminality. Gendered pathways mainstream criminology approach focuses on explaining why females have a less likelihood of engaging in crime, as opposed to males.
Moreover, the approach elaborates why the crimes that females commit differ significantly from those committed by males (Sherman et al 30). Combining gender socialization and general strain theories is greatly useful in comprehending gendered pathways. Gender has a great influence on the delinquency route that an individual follows. Consequently, adolescents are femininely or masculinely socialized and differ significantly in their responses and perceptions of crime. Consequently, this influences the probability of a reaction to delinquency, as well as the form of delinquency selected.
Depending on the condition of the environment that a woman engages in, they might be forced by circumstances to engage in crime. Women’s behaviour may be influenced by their peers, home, school, and community environment. It is common for women to conflict with their parents frequently. This may result in crimes such as drug trafficking and prostitution. According to the judicial and patriarchal legal systems, women are left with no options.
How girls react to these conflicts and the processing results of legal systems, remain with the girls long after adolescence. Critical adult delinquency might also be associated with previous survival approaches, which were implemented. Later in life, girls who were exposed to sexual victimization use drug trafficking and prostitution as techniques to survive on the streets. These traits are more prevalent during adulthood since the girls possess no solid background. Moreover, they might lack occupational skills, which are significant in starting a new life (Britton 61).
Two points are worth emphasizing. Both young males and females are often exposed to sexual abuse and violence. However, as opposed to the victimization of boys, girls’ victimization plays a huge role in shaping their prestige as women. Moreover, adult males, who perpetrate sexual victimization in young girls, may utilise formal control agencies aimed at keeping these girls home. In search of appropriate survival means, girls might be exposed to further criminalization.
Works Cited
Britton, Dana. “Feminism in criminology: Engendering the outlaw.” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 571.1 (2000): 57-76. Print.
Sherman, Lawrence W., Patrick R. Gartin, and Michael E. Buerger. “Hot Spots Of Predatory Crime: Routine Activities And The Criminology Of Place.” Criminology 27.1 (1989): 27-56. Print.
Wesely, Jennifer. “Considering the context of women’s violence gender, lived experiences, and cumulative victimization.” Feminist Criminology 1.4 (2006): 303-328. Print.