Journal Module 9
“Reading Content”
This module consisted of much reading on Marxist and Feminist Theories of Criminology. The origin of the Marxist/Conflict Theory came about around 1848 under Karl Marx and Ralf Dahrendorf. The core ideas are that crime is a function of class struggle. The capitalist system's emphasis on competition and wealth produces an economical and social environment in which crime is inevitable. Modern outgrowths of Marxist/Conflict Theory are the Conflict Theory, Radical Theory, Critical Criminology, the New Criminology, Radical Feminist Theory and Left Realism.
The Marxist theory is based on the idealistic notion of socialism; therefore, economics is at the center of Marxism. Everyone is equal and nobody has more money than anyone else. The Marxist theory says that all actions follow a logical, scientific pattern. Social progress is also a key aspect of Marxism. It involves the advancement of the whole community not just one person, to the point where everyone is equal. Marxism also encourages the formation of a middle class and equality among all the people of the community. From a Marxist point of view, materialism is seen as a step backwards because the people who feel the need to accumulate wealth and possessions do not understand their responsibility to everyone else. Marx argues that the poor were forced into crime through desperation and that they were also more likely to be victims of violent offenses. He asserted that class differences make society masochistic, which is when a society has citizens who are much poorer than others that violence and other crimes will occur due to the desperation and frustration experienced by the poor who are constantly exploited by the rich. The Marxist theory believes that behavior is the result of the struggle between the proletariat (workers) and the bourgeoisie (owners). The instrumental aspect of this theory is that the political state is only and always an instrument of the capitalist class. Bonger believes that crime will always be great under capitalism. Quinney believes that crimes of the working class are either crimes of accommodation or crime of resistance. Crimes of upper class are crimes of domination and repression. Greenberg believed that juveniles in all social classes in capitalistic societies are relatively deprived of access to the labor market so they may turn to crime.
Feminist theory believes that human materiality, the biological, physical activities, and possessions, shape the way knowledge is formed and delineates the inequalities of patriarchal thought. If crime is seen as an act of aggression, and men are biologically characterized for their aggressive nature than not only is criminal theory male centered, so is the criminal practice. If society accepts that men are predisposed to aggression, which leads to crime, then women are socialized as passive actors and consequently many times the victim. The implications for women are their sense of powerlessness and far reaching dependency upon men. One question of feminist criminologists is how practices of inequality in society can be changed to provide for a new examination of legal thought and practice.
“Internet Content”
Traditional criminological theory has been criticized by feminist criminologists. The majority of mainstream theories evolved out of the experiences of male delinquents/ criminals, experiences that subsequently were interpreted through the eyes of predominantly male scholars. Such forms of inquiry either neglected to consider females at all, or if considered, female motivations and behaviors did not deviate from broader societal conceptions of the female nature and role.
The following article http://www.ou.edu/soc/dwc/simpson2.htm, provides a short essay on why most feminists believed traditional theories to be sexist.
At, http://www.unt.edu/lpbr/subpages/reviews/adlerf.htm an electronic periodical published by The Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association at the University of Texas. This electronic periodical provides information on advances in criminological theory. This periodical states that “Marxist theory crime is viewed as an artifact of social values and political power, both of which are embodied in criminal law. Politics involves conflict over social and other values. The winners of such conflict define certain behavior and acts as crimes, while the losers -- people whose behavior is rejected -- are defined as criminals”.
The following website illustrates an interesting journal written by Richard Hil regarding the new directions for critical criminology in the early new millennium. http://wcr.sonoma.edu/v3n2/hil.html
This module consisted of much reading on Marxist and Feminist Theories of Criminology. The origin of the Marxist/Conflict Theory came about around 1848 under Karl Marx and Ralf Dahrendorf. The core ideas are that crime is a function of class struggle. The capitalist system's emphasis on competition and wealth produces an economical and social environment in which crime is inevitable. Modern outgrowths of Marxist/Conflict Theory are the Conflict Theory, Radical Theory, Critical Criminology, the New Criminology, Radical Feminist Theory and Left Realism.
The Marxist theory is based on the idealistic notion of socialism; therefore, economics is at the center of Marxism. Everyone is equal and nobody has more money than anyone else. The Marxist theory says that all actions follow a logical, scientific pattern. Social progress is also a key aspect of Marxism. It involves the advancement of the whole community not just one person, to the point where everyone is equal. Marxism also encourages the formation of a middle class and equality among all the people of the community. From a Marxist point of view, materialism is seen as a step backwards because the people who feel the need to accumulate wealth and possessions do not understand their responsibility to everyone else. Marx argues that the poor were forced into crime through desperation and that they were also more likely to be victims of violent offenses. He asserted that class differences make society masochistic, which is when a society has citizens who are much poorer than others that violence and other crimes will occur due to the desperation and frustration experienced by the poor who are constantly exploited by the rich. The Marxist theory believes that behavior is the result of the struggle between the proletariat (workers) and the bourgeoisie (owners). The instrumental aspect of this theory is that the political state is only and always an instrument of the capitalist class. Bonger believes that crime will always be great under capitalism. Quinney believes that crimes of the working class are either crimes of accommodation or crime of resistance. Crimes of upper class are crimes of domination and repression. Greenberg believed that juveniles in all social classes in capitalistic societies are relatively deprived of access to the labor market so they may turn to crime.
Feminist theory believes that human materiality, the biological, physical activities, and possessions, shape the way knowledge is formed and delineates the inequalities of patriarchal thought. If crime is seen as an act of aggression, and men are biologically characterized for their aggressive nature than not only is criminal theory male centered, so is the criminal practice. If society accepts that men are predisposed to aggression, which leads to crime, then women are socialized as passive actors and consequently many times the victim. The implications for women are their sense of powerlessness and far reaching dependency upon men. One question of feminist criminologists is how practices of inequality in society can be changed to provide for a new examination of legal thought and practice.
“Internet Content”
Traditional criminological theory has been criticized by feminist criminologists. The majority of mainstream theories evolved out of the experiences of male delinquents/ criminals, experiences that subsequently were interpreted through the eyes of predominantly male scholars. Such forms of inquiry either neglected to consider females at all, or if considered, female motivations and behaviors did not deviate from broader societal conceptions of the female nature and role.
The following article http://www.ou.edu/soc/dwc/simpson2.htm, provides a short essay on why most feminists believed traditional theories to be sexist.
At, http://www.unt.edu/lpbr/subpages/reviews/adlerf.htm an electronic periodical published by The Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association at the University of Texas. This electronic periodical provides information on advances in criminological theory. This periodical states that “Marxist theory crime is viewed as an artifact of social values and political power, both of which are embodied in criminal law. Politics involves conflict over social and other values. The winners of such conflict define certain behavior and acts as crimes, while the losers -- people whose behavior is rejected -- are defined as criminals”.
The following website illustrates an interesting journal written by Richard Hil regarding the new directions for critical criminology in the early new millennium. http://wcr.sonoma.edu/v3n2/hil.html
