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1.2 Revision- Social construction of crime - Coggle Diagram
1.2 Revision- Social construction of crime
How laws change from culture to culture
Polygamy
Polygamy- having one or more husband or wife at the same time
Polygyny- where a man takes two or more wives
Polyandry- where a woman takes two or more husbands
Polygamy is legal in 58 countries, like the Himalayas, India, Malaysia
Laws may vary between cultures due to religion and tradition
Adultery
A sexual act between two people, one or both are married to other people
It is a crime in Africa, Phillipines, Taiwan and 21 of the US states, It is legal in countries such as the UK and India
Laws vary due to religion (most religions condemn adultery) and the position of women (laws against adultery are usually found in societies where women occupy a subordinate position.
Homosexuality
Sexual acts between two members of the same sex
Legal in the UK, Europe, north and south America
Laws vary due to religion (huge influence over the law) public opinion (most of the publics opinion on a topic) and sexism (sexist assumptions such as women being incapable of same sex attraction)
Cannabis
Maximum punishment for possession is 5 years imprisonment and a supply in the UK is 14 years imprisonment.
Cannabis possession is legal in Canada, Uruguay for medical uses and Portugal for personal use.
Laws vary between cultures due to different norms and values (individual freedom) and different ideas on how its best to control drug use
How laws change over time
Capital punishment
Laws were made to protect the rich and their property, the death penalty could be given for crimes as little as theft of property value over 12 pence, shooting rabbits or pickpocketing.
Execution of someone as a punishment for a specific crime after going through trial or legal proceedings.
Hanging, electric chair, lethal injection, beheading, stoning, burnt at the stake gas chamber, firing squad.
The change in status and rights of certain social groups and the increasing number or miscarriages of justice led to a change in the law.
Gun control laws
Laws tightened in 1997 by enquiry by Lord Cullen
Laws changed after two mass shootings in the UK, Michael Ryan shot and killed 16 people in 1987 and Thomas Hamilton shot 16 children and 1 teacher at a primary school in 1996
Gun control network was set up by lawyers, academics and parents of victims to campaign for tighter gun control laws.
Laws related to children
Compulsory education introduced in 1880 to keep children out of paid work
19th century children from as young as 6 were used in cotton mills and coalmines and the factory acts gradually exclude children from the workplace.
The children act defines parents as having responsibilities rather than rights in relation to children. Laws and policies that only applies to children (minimum ages on topics such as sex and smoking) reinforce the idea that children are different to adults.