Social media: A challenge to identity and relational desistance

Abstract

Society has witnessed a rapid growth in the prevalence and use of social media. The influence and impact of this expansion has sparsely, if at all, been considered within the context of desistance from crime. This article draws upon the narratives of male and female service users subject to community supervision by a Community Rehabilitation Company, collected as part of a doctoral thesis. Evidence demonstrates how social media plays a largely negative role, with some gendered difference on a service user’s identity and relational desistance, alongside individual agency and wider social structures. This enables the article to develop the evidence base of interactionist perspectives of desistance, while also recognising gender.

Being a ‘good woman’: Stigma, relationships and desistance

“…This stigmatisation is exacerbated by the wider media, where women are given greater attention (Malloch and McIvor, 2011) and seen as somewhat other when involved in crime (Jewkes, 2015). Local media also reaffirms gendered expectations and stereotypes (Barlow, 2015), perpetuated by social media which increases feelings of shame and guilt when criminalised (Rutter, 2020). Lageson and Maruna (2018: 115) note;Public exposure of past crime and misdemeanours carries a specific type of shaming stigmatisation that violates privacy and takes away control over one’s identity, complicating desistance and reintegration processes.As will be argued in this article, both shame and stigmatisation are influenced by individuals’ responsibilisation, affecting criminalised women’s relationships, and ultimately their desistance from both crime and risk of harm through victimisation.…”

“…Taking a gendered comparative sample, the first explored the role of whole relational networks in the processes of desistance, through a consideration of opportunities for co-production (Rutter, 2019(Rutter, , 2020. Longitudinal fieldwork was carried out over an 18 month period between late 2017 and early 2019, within 'Female Street' women's centre contracted to deliver support to criminalised women within a Community Rehabilitation Company.…”

“…Falling short of achieving the role of motherhood, in line with societal ideas of what it means to be a ‘good woman’, perpetuates the feelings of shame and guilt (Leverentz, 2014). The assumptions surrounding traditional gendered norms also result in criminalised women experiencing higher levels of societal stigmatisation (Estrada et al, 2012) maintained by wider patriarchal oppression, and challenging positive relational networks (Rutter, 2020). This stigmatisation is exacerbated by the wider media, where women are given greater attention (Malloch and McIvor, 2011) and seen as somewhat other when involved in crime (Jewkes, 2015).…”

“…This stigmatisation is exacerbated by the wider media, where women are given greater attention (Malloch and McIvor, 2011) and seen as somewhat other when involved in crime (Jewkes, 2015). Local media also reaffirms gendered expectations and stereotypes (Barlow, 2015), perpetuated by social media which increases feelings of shame and guilt when criminalised (Rutter, 2020). Lageson and Maruna (2018: 115)…”

The Disparity of Criminal Implementation in Case of Child Intercourse and Molestation As Seen From The Perspective of Decidendic Ratio Theory

“…The crime of sexual intercourse and molestation against children is increasingly widespread (Joleby, Lunde, Landström, & Jonsson, 2021). The rapid development of society and the increase in crime in social life have an impact on a tendency of members of the community themselves to interact with one another (Rutter, 2021). This interaction often occurs when an act violates the law or the rules that have been determined in society (Utama, 2021), to create a sense of security, peace, and order in society (Anwar, 2021).…”