Carlen's class deal and gender deal
Carlen argues women commit less crime because they accept two 'deals': the class deal (legitimate work, modest income) and gender deal (acceptance of domestic responsibilities), deterring crime.
Real World
A single mother in post-industrial Middlesbrough, finding low-wage retail work offers no real security and domestic responsibilities feel overwhelming, may turn to benefit fraud or petty theft — exactly the dual deal breakdown Carlen describes.
Exam Focus
When applying Carlen, always identify which deal has broken down — examiners expect precision, not just 'she rejected the deals'.
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