Add your conference to our Justice Events calendar

PUBLICATIONS

Stay Informed
Register with NCJRS to receive NCJRS's biweekly e-newsletter JUSTINFO and additional periodic emails from NCJRS and the NCJRS federal sponsors that highlight the latest research published or sponsored by the Office of Justice Programs.

NCJRS Abstract

The document referenced below is part of the NCJRS Virtual Library collection. To conduct further searches of the collection, visit the Virtual Library. See the Obtain Documents page for direction on how to access resources online, via mail, through interlibrary loans, or in a local library.

NCJ Number:	214762

Title:	Durkheim's Latent Theory of Gender and Homicide

Journal:	British Journal of Criminology Volume:46 Issue:2 Dated:March 2006 Pages:212-233

Author(s):	Bruce DiCristina

Date Published:	March 2006

Page Count:	22

Publisher:	http://bjc.oxfordjournals.org/

Type:	Research (Theoretical)

Format:	Article

Language:	English

Country:	United Kingdom

Annotation:	This article critically examines Durkheim’s latent theory of gender and homicide, focusing specifically on the conservatism of his views on gender.

Abstract:	In all, Durkheim’s writings on the relationship between gender and homicide are incomplete yet provide a hint of why gender differences in homicide rates may change across various stages of societal development. His main statements regarding gender and homicide reject a biological reason for women’s lower homicide rates and posit that because women are less active in collective life, they experience less exposure to the causes of homicide. Main observations related to Durkheim’s theory included the importance of opportunity to the commission of homicide. Durkheim noted that opportunities to commit homicide differed between the genders and also observed that the effects of gendered socialization caused “homicidal passions” to be ignited in men and not women. Thus, Durkheim’s argument is that men have higher rates of homicide than women because their social structural location provides them with greater homicidal opportunities and their socialization has provided them with the “seeds of strong homicidal passions.” Another observation made by the author is that the centrality of anomie to Durkheim’s theory of criminality may have been overblown by later criminological literature. The author argues that while anomie is an important part of Durkheim’s theory, it appears to be of secondary importance. In terms of a feminist critique of Durkheim’s viewpoints on gender, the author contends that some of Durkheim’s statements challenge traditional patriarchal thought and encourage greater gender equality. Footnotes, references

Main Term(s):	Gender issues; Homicide

Index Term(s):	Crimes of opportunity; Homicide causes; Theory



	To cite this abstract, use the following link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=236321

*A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents not available online, a link to the publisher's website is provided. Tell us how you use the NCJRS Library and Abstracts Database - send us your feedback.

PUBLICATIONS

NCJRS Abstract

Find in a Library