Why do women steal?

A qualitative study on the factors that influenced women convicted by Article 157 of the Penal Code

Abstract

The increase in female incarceration in recent decades presents itself as a social aggravating factor and a serious challenge for public security policies. For this reason, this study aimed to investigate the factors that influenced the women from Espírito Santo to commit the crime of theft. The research was conducted through interviews with twenty women serving time in the female prison in the city of Cariacica in the state of Espírito Santo. The study made it possible to know a little about the history and personal values of the participants. Among the main results, the context presented by women included the use of psychoactive substances and the condition of poverty. Other factors, such as adrenaline seeking, acceptance, and defiance of authority, were found to be personal motivations. The results were analyzed through the perspective of moral development of Kohlberg, La Taille, and Gilligan. The analyses point to moral values linked to the logic of consumption and the search for immediate pleasure as emerging. This logic needs to be considered so that public security policies can develop strategies and programs that consider that the practice of robbery crimes is linked to current social values and ideals and, from this, overcome the limitation of the incarceration policy considered, for the most part, as the only response to violence and crime.