Upon the release of the biennial statistics on female criminality
women were represented as offenders, suspects, victims, and employees of the reported criminal incidences during the period data collection. I found out that there is a number of statistics from the figures that really attract the eye. The 35% rise in female criminality despite the 15% drop in the overall crime rate is one of the recorded figures that really caught the eye (Uniform Crime Report 1990/1999). Another statistic, from the Guardian Datablog, showed that women majorly committed these crimes against fellow women, averaging to 7.1 as compared to the 2.8 average in the men’s case. Another eye-opening statistic is the increase in the number of women that fall victims to criminal incidences, with the Uniform Crime Report 2000 claiming the number went up 48%.
I feel the theories behind the rise in female criminality
are shifting from the traditional theories which are now outdated to the one more applicable in today’s society. I think the Women’s Liberation theory that talks about the traditional gender roles as being a factor is very outdated and does not suit the current society. I think the Social Control theory holds the most merit and is highly applicable to female offenders. The theory talks of the existence of an external force such as commitments, attachments, involvement, and beliefs that controls criminal urges that are experienced by each one of us, a factor that can highly affect the female gender (Burke 18). I, however, noted that no one single theory fully elaborated female criminality but the theories only give pictures of why females take part in criminal activities. I argue that there are other crucial factors that contribute to female criminality such as a lack of opportunities, oppression, and victimization.
