Codes of Commitment to Crime and Resistance: Determining Social and Cultural Factors over the Behaviors of Italian Mafia Women

Abstract

This article categorizes thirty-three women in four main Italian Mafia groups and explores social and cultural behaviors of these women. This study introduces the feminist theory of belief and action. The theoretical inquiry investigates the sometimes conflicting behaviors of women when they are subject to systematic oppression. I argue that there is a cultural polarization among the categorized sub-groups. Conservative radicals give their support to the Mafia while defectors and rebels resist the Mafia. After testing the theory, I assert that emancipation of women depends on the strength of their beliefs to perform actions against the Mafiosi culture.ARTICLE HISTORY

Illegal Entrepreneurship, Organized Crime and Social Control

“…Rather than seeking impact or pursuing political objectives, the Chinese women participating in criminal enterprises were largely, if not solely, motivated by economic incentives for different personal reasons. Our fi ndings are in line with research on the same subject in geographical contexts, something that indicates the dynamism of the role of women in the criminal markets (see, for example, Cayli, 2015 ) and also recognises that their role, position and gendered performance in criminal market activities should be understood in its historical and cultural contexts. At the same time, we also claim that there are other dimensions should also be examined, such as social class and personal conditions and abilities, as well as women players' willingness to develop knowledge, techniques and interpersonal skills.…”

Self-stigma among criminal offenders: Risk and protective factors.

“…Using a single-item measure (Moore, Stuewig, & Tangney, 2016), participants were asked to what degree they agreed with the statement “I am a criminal” on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ( totally disagree ) to 6 ( totally agree ). Higher scores reflected a stronger criminal identity.…”

“…Having perceived stigma towards one’s group, a person may anticipate further discriminatory treatment in the future, whether or not they agree with and internalize associated negative stereotypes. Thus, anticipated stigma is thought to occur outside the process through which stereotypes are internalized (Moore et al, 2016). Nonetheless, anticipated stigma is a self-relevant response shown to be associated with distress among people with concealable stigmas (Quinn & Chaudoir, 2009), decreased access to medical care among those with chronic health conditions (Earnshaw & Quinn, 2011), and with poor community adjustment among criminal offenders (Moore et al, 2016).…”

“…Thus, anticipated stigma is thought to occur outside the process through which stereotypes are internalized (Moore et al, 2016). Nonetheless, anticipated stigma is a self-relevant response shown to be associated with distress among people with concealable stigmas (Quinn & Chaudoir, 2009), decreased access to medical care among those with chronic health conditions (Earnshaw & Quinn, 2011), and with poor community adjustment among criminal offenders (Moore et al, 2016). Therefore, anticipated stigma can be harmful even when stereotypes are not internalized and represents a unique element of the stigma process that may also have its own risk and protective factors.…”

“…Risk and protective factors associated with self-stigma among criminal offenders are unknown. Given that self-stigma may have pivotal implications for offenders’ reintegration in the community after release from jail (Moore et al, 2016) and risk for recidivism, it is important to identify factors that increase vulnerability to self-stigma.…”