Theory of Anomie
American sociologist Robert Merton, borrowed ideas from the French Sociologist Emile
Durkheim. Durkheim defines crime as acts which “offend strong and definite states of the
collective conscience”. Crime for him is a social fact. It is normal and universal in its varying
forms, in all cultures and societies, at all stages of their development. A certain amount of crime
is inevitable, normal and healthy in any society. Crime is inevitable because not every member
of society can be equally committed to the collective sentiments, the shared values and ethics
of society.
Since individuals in society are exposed to various influences, it is impossible for all to be alike.
Durkheim further argues that crime is not only inevitable, it can also be functional. Social
change begins with some form of deviance and society itself generates deviance for its own
wellbeing. Repressing criminal behavior completely is not desirable, for that would create a
Situation that is inimical to innovation and social change. Robert Merton” borrowed ideas from
Emile Durkheim. According to Merton, criminality is caused by pressure or tension. The source
of this tension is stimulated aspirations to achieve certain goals coupled with obstacles to their
achievement. Frustrated individuals turn to crime either to release this tension or to achieve
their goals via illegitimate avenues. Merton used the word ‘Anomie’. To Merton, anomie was
not a state of normlessness which precipitated anti-social behavior, but the condition
experienced by individuals taught to want the goals of their culture but denied access to them.
Social bond theory
Ram Ahuja has put forth an explanation from an Indian perspective for women’s crime. His
work attracted the attention of a number of sociologists and criminologists to the area of
female criminality in India. This perspective is primarily concerned with the pattern of family
relationships. Through analyzing the structural problems of family. Organization and the types
of functional problems in women’s families of procreation, crimes committed by women are
examined in terms of maladjustment in interpersonal relationships within the family. This
‘family-centered explanation’ or more broadly the ‘Pressure of primary relations perspective’
can be explained through a following diagram.
Thus, the woman’s “crime” (e.g., husband’s murder) will be the outcome of interaction
between her personality system and totality of situations in her family. The crime will develop
in interaction process over time through a series of stages. In this process of spread in time, the
“criminal behavior” will emerge not by the ‘past’ alone but by the ‘current’ situation and by
triggering or precipitating circumstances too. In simplified form, conjunctive theoretical model
in women’s criminality accounts for differences in women’s families and other institutional
structures as well as in their personalities.
Opportunist theory
She showed that there is no difference between male and female in terms of morality, the
biological characteristics not being relevant for committing crime. When more women get
access in labor market as skilled labor and possess highly specialized position in the job sector
they commit more employment related property crime like men. Some women take the
advantage of these opportunities, just as some men do before. ‘If women become more skilled
and educated, they will be economically independent in future’. Consequently, the rate of
violent crime of female will be reduced since women generally commit violent acts against their
husbands or inmate partners. Still, she asserted that women were committing more crimes
generally characterized as masculine, particularly white-collar and occupationally offences.
When women become more educated and independent they will be more able to resolve these
often volatile situations in other less violent ways. As women feel more liberated physically,
emotionally, and legally, and are less subjected to male power, their frustrations and anger
decrease ... [which results] in a decline in their desire to kill the usual objects of their anger of
frustration: their husbands, lovers, and other men upon whom they are dependent, but
insecure about’.
Causes of the majority of female criminality it has been seen that their position is marginalized
by less salary, un-respectful occupation and less secured job. Generally, they commit less
property related crime. Women are motivated to commit crime as a rational response to
poverty and economic insecurity. This theory argues that the major causes of female crime are
unemployment, poorly paid employment, inadequate welfare payments, and the increasing
number of female headed households with large number of children.
“Crime, in India, is not a male bastion anymore”
Perception of women in society
The history of mankind reveals that the woman has been the foundation stone of a family in
particular and society in general. Since the dawn of civilization, women have been seen as
preservers of social norms, traditions, customs, morality and family cohesiveness. Woman has
been given a position of pride in every religion. My immediate concern is why the woman, who
is considered to be foundation stone of family and every spiritual faith, without whose blessings
the work of infusing new life into humanity cannot be accomplished, has gone astray making
her mark on the crime scene and this is what has encouraged me to write this paper of
women's involvement in criminality in the social, cultural, economic and political milieu of India.
The women in Indian culture are approached with deference and poise. They are thought to be
the preservers of social standards, conventions, traditions, ethical quality, and cohesiveness in
the family. Usually faith in the Indian culture that the role women are confined to home, she
commits her life in serving all individuals from the family. Her happiness lies in the prosperity of
different individuals from the family; her prosperity lies in the accomplishment of individuals
from family. Women have the less opportunity to blend with other individuals other than
individuals from the family. The family framework in India is man centric in nature. Oldest male
part heads the family. Family is distinguished by the family name or for the sake of leader of the
family. Women have a subordinate and supporting position to men in the family. As a young
lady she is secured by father, as a spouse by the husband and as an old individual by the child. A
lady in the family is secured by the male individuals. Women's fate is sealed and they face
deprivation instead of constitutional rights and privileges. Discrimination within society exists
from birth till last breath in most parts in India.
Statistics
While women criminals are still a minority- they comprise only 5% of the criminals convicted for
heinous crimes. The Crime in India Reports reveal that the number of females arrested for
criminals activities in 2003 were 1,51,675, and this shot up to 1,54,635 in 2007. Also,
interestingly, the nature of crimes committed by them too, is gradually witnessing a sea change
- from softer crimes like drug trafficking and prostitution to heinous crimes like murder. 3439
women were arrested for murder in 2005 and 3812 in 2007 that is an increase from 5,4% in
2005 to 6% in 2007 (NCRB figures). Also most of the crimes committed by females are ones in
the age group 30 -45 years.
Factors (Etiology of crime)
These compelling factors such as want or economic independence, recognition in society and to
earn her respectable position is what probably forces these women to resort to these extreme
steps of taking law in their hands according to my view. The main sources of crime might be
extensively isolated in five main classes i.e.; Social, Economic, Physical, Geographical and
Political. Among the social causes i.e. Family, blemished education, Cinema, Newspaper,
Absence of social control, utilization of liquor, forbiddance of dowager remarriage,
imperfections of marriage and settlement framework and so on, and the Economic causes i.e.
destitution, joblessness, Industrialization, Urbanization, and so on are observed to contribute a
noteworthy part in the commission of the criminal demonstration.
In India, most of the women prisoners were unemployed, hailed from poor background,
married from joint family and does not possess any land, basically the poor conditions of their
families have compelled them to commit crime. Majority of the women offenders convicted for
homicidal activities were poorly adjusted to the family settings. The offences majorly stemmed
from: - husband and in-law’s cruelty, rejection and humiliation, husband’s illicit affairs, alcohol
and substance use, domestic violence.
According to Rath (2012) illiteracy, dependency due to no source of income, low family income,
lack of parental guidance due to illiteracy, necessity to fulfill their parental obligations towards
their children, adjustment problem in interpersonal relationship of marriage. Thus this
concludes that women offender are themselves the victims of the crime and offenders to fulfill
their basic needs.
Bajpai and Bajpai (2000), states that as women are increasingly joining the mainstream of
society, their share in crime as is reflected by the available data in India and elsewhere is also
on the rise. They mention a very catchy statement which is, “The rights are first demanded,
then commanded and later snatched”. In this fight for rights, either to obtain or defend them,
clash is unavoidable which result in incidence of crime.
Types of offenses committed
Female addict crimes are mainly prostitution, reselling sedative or assisting l=make drug dealers
and property crimes, shoplifting, forgery and burglary etc. In India, most of the women
convicted of minor thefts are housewives who usually lack money to be able to buy things
which are later stolen.
Psychological impact and the issues in jail
Female prisoners in Indian prisons face inequitable treatment, neglected medical care, and
psychological problems.
Condition in the prison
Most of the female prisoners are kept in district or central jail which are exclusively designed
for male inmates despite female prisoners are kept in separate cell but their needs are
neglected. Overcrowding, lack of privacy, sexual exploitation, unfulfilled health and hygiene
related issues.
Illiteracy and basic rights
Most of the female convicts are not literate and they are not aware about their basic rights.
Due to this many are not informed about the abortion process and also the pregnant offenders
need to be taken to the hospital for the delivery of the child.
Impact on the children prisoners and perception of female offenders in society
In Indian setting it is observed that it is observed that the involvement of women in criminal
acts changes their social life and it makes their life very challenging for the families to live with
that stigma. Involvement of the female offenders particularly the married ones seriously affects
the marriage, also the children become the additional victim of their offence. Children are
separated from their mothers and the custody id sent to the relatives, dropped out from
schools and incase no one comes up as a guardian then they need to help themselves by selling
the valuables. Even the children (up to the age of six) grow up in a deprived environment which
leaves a long lasting appalling effect on their personalities.
Conclusion
All the above cases show no particular trend, reason nor do any of the above theories
sufficiently prove the causes for these crimes. The social environment contributes a lot to the
making of women criminals. "If people have been abused, the chances of their taking to crime
are high. But in most cases, it is more to do with the patriarchal society. “Men get women into
crime" says psychologist Anchal Bhagat. It appears that female offenders have lost faith in
social system. Despite constitutional guarantees of equal rights and privileges women's fate
could not be changed. Discrimination prevails from birth till last breath. Even her education, her
involvement in every work equally is not enough to give any credit to her the problem becomes
manifold when despite her awareness and ability she is to obey orders of man (in form of
father, brother husband etc.) of lesser ability. Her own opinion is brutally crushed overheard
and she is subjected to victimization because she is a woman.
Attention should be paid on providing her with proper medical aid and even on rehabilitation,
Inca female offender suffers from a mental condition and she comes out of prison after serving
her term, she would probably continue to come grimes because the problem still subsists in
her, and who knows it would have probably even become from bad to worse.
