The Hidden Factor of Female Offending – Gender

Abstract

The social concept of gender emphasizes the bond between society and people. Gender is not determined through the sexual characteristics of either women or men but constructed socially. Gender role is a social position that includes a variety of actions and attitudes that are usually considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for people based on their personal or biological sex. This research was based on “gender role and crime”, and the main objective was to examine the impact of gender role towards the female offending in Sri Lankan context. A simple randoms ample of 60 convicted female prisoners from Welikada prison in Sri Lanka was selected as the sample and data were gathered using semi-structured interviews. Questions were focused on the crime committed, direct reason for committing, civil status and socio-economic background of the offenders. All 60 offenders could be categorized into five groups based on the “type of crime committed”. Majority of the offenders were accused of “Drug possession and trafficking”, and it holds 55% from the whole. Prostitution (28%), abortion (8.3%), homicide (3.3%) and financial fraud (5%) were recognized as the other crimes committed. Economic status, addiction, social labelling, social indignity, motivation, and protection were identified as primary reasons for offending. “Gender role” has been played a particular part in female offender’s life which is hidden from direct reasons. Female gender role is created an early civilization based on the household and childcare. Nevertheless, with the intangible change of society has disorganized the female gender role. Male gender role existed with the dominance of the household with minimal change. Female gender role became complicated within the limitations of traditional duties. Child socialization upgraded to structured education alone with money based basic needs. Females entered to all professionals expanding duties hold, while maintaining the responsibilities of traditional gender role. Although it showed an increment of education of females, it has supported to “fraud” indirectly. As major duties of female gender role created with biological features of the female body like accouchement, female body base hiding and escaping methods, vulnerability as rape and social labelling of indignity were unchanged. The research revealed female offending is a normal response by normal females towards abnormal gender conditions of the society. To address this social dilemma, gender role should be flexible; responsibilities should be taken by the family as an institution while mutual accountabilities are transferred for individuals.