As of December 31, 2007 there were 51 women on death row. This constitutes 1.5% of the total death row population of about 3, 350 persons. This number seems very small when it compares to the men that are on death row which makes a lot of people wonder whether the death penalty is applied justly or arbitrarily. Also, are people more likely to get the death penalty because of their income, ethnicity, race age or gender?
In this analysis a ton of useful information will be covered to help you come to the conclusion of why there are fewer women facing the death penalty as well as the answer to how the death penalty is applied. Also, this analysis will cover how significant the population difference is between men and women on death row, how men and women are treated on death row, what crimes women have to commit in order to get the death penalty, what the characteristics of women on death row are and also how women that happen to be mothers treated when it comes down to whether or not they will get the death penalty.
The death penalty in the United States is used almost exclusively for the crime of murder (Center). However, there are other crimes that can lead someone to get the death penalty such as, treason, aggravated kidnapping, drug trafficking, aircraft hijacking, placing a bomb near a bus terminal, espionage and aggravated assault by incarcerated, persistent felons, or murders (Center). But, with that being said usually women are only given the death penalty when they kill their child or husband/boyfriend. This is because the way the justice system looks at things it is less likely for women to commit other violent crimes as opposed to men,
From 1977 to 2009 there have been 1,136 death penalty executions that have taken place (Bohm & Haley, 2009). Out of those 1,136 executions only 11 women have been executed (Bohm & Haley, 2009). Now the question comes into play as to why women are less likely to get the death penalty than men? According to the American Bar Association, the reason there are fewer women on death row is because capital punishment is about portraying people as devils and women are usually seen as being less threatening (Rueter, 1996). So, this tells us a lot as to why the death penalty population is so significant when it comes to men and women.
When we start to analyze the crimes that women commit to get the death penalty it seems that they are purely even crimes. Majority of the women who are on death row right now landed themselves their by killing their children or husbands. Can’t we all agree that that is an evil crime? Then to analyze the women on death row even further majority of the women who are awaiting their execution dates are women who are between the ages of 40-59 and the majority of women on death row also happen to be white. After thinking back to the crimes that these women committed to be placed on the death penalty do you think they should be treated different or if they are mothers should they be given any special consideration when it comes down to whether or not they should get the death penalty?
However, when it comes down to how women are treated on death row it is said that men are treated ten times better than the women. According to the New York Times women are only able to leave their cells for an hour a day while men are able to have more time out to engage in playing cards and socializing with the other inmates. On the other hand women are lucky if they are able to get at least three showers a week. However, the reason that men are able to have these privileges is only because lawsuits were filed. This is quite understandable since there are more men on death row than women.
When it comes to women who are mothers should they be allowed to be served to the death penalty? Currently, the government feels as though the death penalty should not be carried out on women who are under eighteen years of age and also pregnant women (11Oc). Also, new mother may not receive the death penalty but it does not go to say the just mothers in general cannot receive the death penalty because there are mothers on death row right now.
In conclusion, the death penalties past and present use does not reflect equal justice for all (Barak, Leighton, & Jeanne, 2010). It is to selective and arbitrary in all but the most heinous crimes, and it is applied disproportionately to marginal offenders and majority victims (Barak, Leighton, & Jeanne, 2010). However, when it comes to race and income status that does not really play a big role in whether or not someone will get the death penalty yet when it comes to women and men it seems men are going to get the death penalty for every little thing that deserves the death penalty since women are viewed as being less violent. However, the women who are on death row have did some pretty bad crimes so to most this really does not make to much sense which is perfectly understandable.
References
(n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2011, from http://www.osce.org/odihr/38958
Barak, G., Leighton, P., & Jeanne, F. (2010). Class, Race, Gender, Crime Third Edition. The Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
Bohm, R. M., & Haley, K. N. (2009). Introduction To Criminal Justice 6th Edition. McGraw Hill.
Center, D. P. (n.d.). Death Penalty For Offenses Other Than Murder. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from Death Penalty Information Center: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/death-penalty-offenses-other-murder
Rueter, T. (1996, Fall). Why Women Aren’t Executed: Gender Bias and the Death Penalty. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from American Bar Association: http://www.americanbar.org/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/irr_hr_fall96_genderbias.html
