An Exploratory Analysis of Gender Differences in Punitiveness in Two Countries

• Author: Besiki Kutateladze,Angela M. Crossman
• DOI: 10.1177/1057567709338921
• Published date: 01 September 2009
• Date: 01 September 2009

An Exploratory Analysis of

Gender Differences in

Punitiveness in Two Countries

Besiki Kutateladze

Vera Institute of Justice

Angela M. Crossman

John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York

Although social scientists have long studied attitudes toward severity of punishment,

theoretically driven, validated measures that gauge a female–male gap in punitiveness are

rare and those tested in different countries are even more so. Studies conducted in different

geographical locations and/or at different times reveal inconsistent findings on whether such a

gap in fact exists and, if so, whether women or men are more punitive. As a result, itis not

clear whether individual differences in punitiveness are due to the differences between men

and women or to the type of measures used. To address this shortcoming, the current study

explored the putative female–male gap in punitiveness byusing the same multi-item measure

of individual punitiveness with two very different samples, one selected in Georgia (country)

and the second in the New York metropolitan area (NYC). The results showed that while

females and males were not distinctly different in their views on punishment and sentencing

laws in either country, women and men were punitive in different ways. This finding partially

supports previously reported results. In addition, individuals in the NYC sample seemed tobe

comparatively more punitive than the individuals in the Georgian sample. Limitations and

suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords: punitiveness; gender; public attitudes; comparative

It is important to understand public and individual perceptions of criminal punishment and

sentencing or punitiveness. Such an understanding can inform public policy and help to

reveal a particular culture’s most basic values andbeliefs. Overriding attitudes about punish-

ment can affect how the criminal justice system responds to criminal behavior, and the beha-

vior of individuals may be tied to their attitudes about punishment. Finally, by studying public

perceptions of justifications for punishment, researchers can learn whether citizens are

informed about various criminal justice responses to offenders (Payne, Gainey, Triplett, &

Danner, 2004). A large gap between public attitudes and punishment practices could raise

legitimate questions about the criminal justice system (Robinson & Darley, 1995).

Authors’ Note: The authors would like to thank James Lynch and Karen Terry for their support throughout the

course of this research and the anonymous reviewers who critiqued earlier manuscripts and offered meticulous

and thoughtful suggestions. Without their contributions, this article would not have been possible. The data

were collected with support from the Doctoral Student Research Grant Program of the CUNY Graduate

Center. Please address correspondence to Besiki Kutateladze, International Indicators Group, Vera Institute

of Justice, 233 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10279; e-mail: BKutateladze@vera.org.

International Criminal

Justice Review

Volume 19 Number 3

September 2009 322-343

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Numerous researchers have attempted to examine individual differences in perceptions

of punishment as a function of personal characteristics. Among factors considered in pre-

vious studies are gender, religious affiliation, age, and ethnicity. However, particularly for

gender, findings have been inconsistent in terms of their relation to punitiveness. The main

purpose of the current study was to help clarify these inconsistent findings by examining

whether a gender gap in punitiveness exists and, if so, whether women or men are more

punitive.

Given the salience of public opinion to public policy in democratic regimes, the current

examination also juxtaposed public opinions gathered from one of the oldest and one of the

youngest democracies in the world—the United States versus Georgia (country),

1

respec-

tively. This comparison is particularly interesting, given Georgia’s history as a communist

state, as well as its comparatively more egalitarian treatment and position of women in soci-

ety. The former might lead one to expect higher levels of individual punitiveness among

Georgians, compared to U.S. participants, while its suppression by Russia might suggest

the opposite. Their treatment of women suggests no gender differences among Georgians,

compared to the possibility of less punitiveness among female versus male participants in

the United States, at least in some contexts. Here, the use of a variety of question types and

contexts to assess punitiveness was expected to help illuminate the source of previously

contradictory findings for gender. If the pattern of findings was consistent across these two

samples, it might allow for greater generalizability regarding gender differences in puni-

tiveness (or lack thereof). The current study also explored possible effects of psychosocial,

cultural, and methodological factors that might influence individual views of punishment

and sentencing laws in both countries.

2

Gender Differences in Punitiveness

Exploring gender differences in punitiveness is useful because it could have an impact on

future criminal justice policy making. Shifts toward greater female participation in politics

and the legal and criminal justice systems, as practitioners and researchers, could signifi-

cantly affect the future of punishment and sentencing laws. It is difficult, however, to pre-

dict whether such a ratio shift will result in placing a greater emphasis on treatment or on

toughening punishments, given inconsistent findings on gender differences in punitiveness.

Previous research on gender differences in punitiveness can be divided into four categories,

corresponding to the nature of the findings. The categories are (a) women are more puni-

tive, (b) men are more punitive, (c) there is no noteworthy gender gap in punitiveness, and

(d) men are more punitive in some ways and women in other ways, depending on type of

questions asked.

In the first category, Sprott (1999) interviewed 1,006 Canadians regarding crime and jus-

tice. Respondents were asked whether they believed that sentences imposed in adult courts

were too severe, about right, or not severe enough. Women (80.8%) were more likely than

men (70.9%) to perceive sentences as insufficiently severe. Similarly, the Canadian

General Social Survey taken in 1988 and again in 1993 revealed higher dissatisfaction

among females than males with the harshness of criminal sanctions. Relying on the General

Social Survey of U.S. respondents, Cook (1994) found that 88.3%of women, but 82.2%of

men, thought that courts were not harsh enough in dealing with criminals. In both countries,

Kutateladze, Crossman / Punitiveness Gap323

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