You will write a reflection memo on a given prompt to reflect and integrate course materials in order to critically consider race, gender, and crime issues.

Reflection Prompts

Masculinities, Femininities, Sexuality, and Crime.
One of the well-known indisputable criminological facts is that men commit more crime than women and that men are more likely to commit crime than women (though a few exceptions do exist). One of the explanations for the gender gap focuses on the cultural (and structural) aspects of society. Specifically, some scholars have theorized that masculinities and femininities matter in affecting why, how, and when men and women may get involved in criminal behaviors. Broader gender research and gender and crime research have also demonstrated that gender is strongly linked to sexuality. Research has demonstrated that when people “do gender” and “do crime,” they are “doing sexuality” (especially “doing heteronormativity” or “doing heterosexuality”). Drawing from course materials, describe your thoughts on the role of masculinities, femininities, and sexuality by:

. Outlining the general sociological perspectives on gender (how gender as social structure and doing gender matter inn affecting people’s gendered behaviors).

. Demonstrating how “doing gender” (or doing masculinities and/or doing femininities) is intricately linked to the idea of sexuality (“doing heteronormativity” and/or “doing heterosexuality”).

. Demonstrating how sexuality matters the ways in which men and women “do crime.”

. Reflecting on what you have learned about “what causes crime” and gendered implications of crime by considering cultural aspects of gender and sexuality.

Important Notes

At the top of your paper, make sure to note which prompt(s) you are answering in your memo. A paper that does not indicate the option will automatically receive a one full letter grade deduction.
Your main task here is to answer the prompt(s) as you refer/connect to course materials. There is no strict guideline on how many materials you need to include given that what you can draw from course materials might be different for each prompt. However, you need to try to include and refer to at least 3-6 course materials. Course materials can be required readings, lectures, and supplemental readings. You are also highly encourage to refer to discussions that we did in the course. This also means that you are required to bring in and use concepts/theories that appeared in lectures and/or readings. When you bring in concepts/theories, you should provide a brief definition. Although the audience of your memo is just me, you still need to provide definitions so that I can assess whether you have good understanding of the concepts/theories.
Moreover, depending on the prompt(s) that you chose to answer, you are also required not only to use/connect course materials, but also to use/connect current events/issues. When you chose prompt(s) that require you to bring in current events/issues, you are also required to find sources (such as news articles) and provide proper citations. When you bring inn current events/issues, make sure to briefly describe what the case is/was.

 

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