Deviance and Social Control: A Sociological Perspective
SAGE Journal Articles
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Abstract:
This article contests the contention that sociology lacks a sound theoretical approach to the study of race and racism, instead arguing that a comprehensive and critical sociological theory of race and racism exists. This article outlines this theory of race and racism, drawing from the work of key scholars in and around the field. This consideration of the state of race theory in sociology leads to four contentions regarding what a critical and comprehensive theory of race and racism should do: (1) bring race and racism together into the same analytical framework; (2) articulate the connections between racist ideologies and racist structures; (3) lead us towards the elimination of racial oppression; and (4) include an intersectional analysis.
Summary:
Tanya Golash-Boza is a white women and tenured professor at the University of California-Merced. Golash-Boza notes that she offers her personal information because she it lessens the opportunity for her work to be discounted. In this article she gives an overview of how social construction of race, the sociological theories of race and racism and how racism is manifested in our society.
Questions to Consider:
- Define social construction.
- What are the four categories of race?
- Define racism.
- Describe “microagression”.
Abstract:
More than 30 years after the first scholarship of its kind was produced, feminist studies of crime are more commonplace than ever before. Two recent milestone events—the 20th anniversary of the American Society of Criminology’s Division on Women and Crime and the creation of this journal, the official publication of the division—provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on what lies ahead for feminist criminology. In this article, the author argues that the future of feminist criminology lies in our willingness to embrace a theoretical framework that recognizes multiple, intersecting inequalities. Specifically, the author maintains that to advance an understanding of gender, crime, and justice that achieves universal relevance and is free from the shortcomings of past ways of thinking, feminist criminologists must examine linkages between inequality and crime using an intersectional theoretical framework that is informed by multiracial feminism.
Summary:
This essay reviews the history of feminist criminology and suggests how feminist criminologists work be defined in the 21st century.
Questions to Consider:
- Describe the feminist perspective and the development of feminist criminology.
- Explain the sameness/difference debate in feminist criminology.
- Define multicultural feminism.
Article 3: Burgess-Proctor, A., Huebner, B.M., Durso, J.M. Comparing the effects of maternal and paternal incarceration on adult daughters’ and sons’ criminal justice system involvement: a gendered pathways analysis Criminal Justice and Behavior, 2016, Vol. XX, No. X, May 2016, 1–22. (at the time of this submission, the journal has not been made available)
Abstract:
This analysis compares the effects of maternal and paternal incarceration on adult daughters’ and sons’ criminal justice system (CJS) involvement. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) are used to examine differences by parent and offspring sex in the effect of parental incarceration on respondents’ self-reported arrest, conviction, and incarceration after age 18 (N = 15,587). Net of controls, both maternal and paternal incarceration significantly increase log odds of adult offspring CJS involvement. This effect is especially pronounced for same-sex parent–child dyads, suggesting that the salience of parental incarceration for adult offending outcomes is gendered. In addition, intimate partner abuse and running away are significant predictors of adult CJS involvement for women, but not for men. The results suggest the importance of examining parental incarceration using a gendered, developmental framework such as gendered pathways, as well as the need for gender-responsive correctional programming.
Summary:
The researchers’ analysis affirms that parental incarceration has negative consequences for offspring into adulthood.
Questions to Consider:
- What is the overall effect of parental incarceration on adult criminal justice system (CJS) involvement?
- Describe the gendered pathways theoretical framework.
- In addition to maternal incarceration, what factors precipitate a woman’s offending trajectory?
Abstract:
This study examines images in 23 textbooks published between 2008 and 2012 to analyze the interactive effects of race and gender. Pictures were analyzed to determine the visual presence White men, White women, men of color, and women of color have in textbook images. The race and gender of individuals were examined and categorized into three prominent status categories in the field: as criminals, professionals, and victims. The results are compared to a similar study conducted 20 years ago. Overall, the findings show that there is improvement as White males have less visual dominance than previously reported; however, images still reinforce the notion that White men are most often professionals, White women are victims, and men of color are criminals. Women of color remain invisible and lack a significant visual presence of any kind.
Summary:
The researchers’ examine the racial and gender bias of criminal justice and criminology textbooks.
Questions to Consider:
- What is the significance of the pictures in textbooks?
- What stereotypes did the authors find were reinforced in the criminal justice and criminology textbooks?
- Explain visual literacy in relation to how students learn.
- Review Table 5. What are the areas where women of color were absent in most areas? What is the significance of this information?