Reference no: EM133745668

REFLECTIONS ON GENDER AND CRIMINAL LAW

PART 1 The criminal justice system is often viewed as reflecting a moral consensus around social order and appropriate responses. Opponents argue that criminal law and, in turn, the justice system maintain the status quo. This review class asks students to make connections between social views and the criminal justice system by exploring gender and crime issues.

Students must find one (1) example from a current news cycle supported by Canadian media sources (e.g., print, blog, podcast, clip) demonstrating the relationship between gender and crime. Students will bring to class the example of either a criminal case that illustrates the significance of gender in the administration of justice or an example of an issue that demonstrates the criminalization of gender. Students will illustrate their understanding of the gender and crime topic and its implications for the criminal justice system. To support their discussion, students should consider the following questions:

1. What is the relationship between gender and crime policy?

2. What are the general concerns about crime, deviance, and gender?

3. What theoretical perspective(s) (to date) can help us understand this link between gender and crime? Student participation will also include at least one (1) question to further class discussion.

TIP: Students should prepare a minimum of 7 to 10 minutes of materials to discuss with the group.

PART 2 Each student will also provide a one-page (single space) written summary of a theoretical perspective studied to date that guides their understanding of the gender and crime link in their news media source.

The summary should demonstrate your understanding of the theory's value and/or limitations for understanding the role criminal law, and the criminal justice system has in the social ordering of gender. Course materials must be properly referenced. No outside academic sources are allowed.