Project supervisor: Patricia Mohammed

Researchers: Shelene Gomes, Deborah McFee, Candice Dickson

Aim:
During the academic year 2005-6, the Centre for Gender and Development Studies continued its focus on masculinity research through a preliminary investigation of data gleaned from newspaper reports and statistical sources on crime and criminality. The following represents some ideas and findings produced by the researchers from this team:

History of the project:
This project initially began as a joint initiative between the Centre for Gender and Development Studies (CGDS) St. Augustine and Professor Odette Parry of the Social Inclusion Research Unit, the University of Wales. Although the team at Wales originally suggested a focus on criminals’ accounts of their actions in either perpetrating homophobic hate crimes or drug-related criminality, the CGDS’ team decided to focus on a comparative study of the media representation of (petty) crime activities for the years 1999 and 2004. The CGDS therefore took a multidimensional approach that incorporated qualitative and quantitative research. This included conceptual analysis, an investigation of the macroeconomic structure of Trinidad and Tobago, and representations of criminality in the media.

Project statement:
This project focuses on unearthing a more nuanced understanding of the ways that masculinity, crime and violence are interrelated in Trinidad and Tobago. Due to the rapidly deteriorating crime situation, an enquiry into these circumstances must include gendered and class analyses of masculinities as most of the ‘perpetrators’ are male. Correspondingly, there is a blatant need to re-evaluate individual and institutional conceptions of ‘crime’ and ‘safety’.

Main questions:

1. What are the main theoretical issues in an interrogation of masculinities in the Caribbean?
2. Are there problems with employing feminist epistemologies in a theoretical examination of masculinity, and then, criminality?
3. What are the issues that arise from the empirical data? What are the push and pull factors that influence men’s decisions to adopt ‘illegal’ economic activities in place of ‘legal’ ones?
4. How is criminality represented in the media and what types of socio-political implications does this create?

Preliminary findings
Preliminary research focussed on economic analysis that is, questioning the established notion that crime decreases when unemployment decreases because crimes are committed when there is a severe need for money. Statistics from Trinidad and Tobago demonstrate that this is not so. Although unemployment is currently, decreasing crime continues to increase.

Neo classical economics tells us that labour market incentives influence the supply of men to participate in crime (Freeman R. B. 1996 Journal of Economic Perspectives Vol. 10. 1996 pg 30). Such conventional economic theory hallmarks a strong economy as one that has low levels of unemployment, low inflation, and low public deficits thereby creating a stable macro economic space and an ideal environment for investment and economic growth, and the development of a nation (Phillip O’Connell ILO 1999 pg 6). This thinking, which equates economic growth and economic development, remains fundamental to development policy. In Trinidad & Tobago’s current national thrust to become ‘developed’ by 2020, one persistent threat to development is crime. Exploring masculinity and crime within a booming economy, preliminary research investigated the performance of the economy over the period 1994-2000. We looked at the performance of all sectors, and the movement of their respective employment rates. The official crime statistics for the period were then explored. The question which preoccupied the researchers was that of why in a booming economy crime and criminality among men continues to grow? Is it that the sectors which are booming within the formal economy do not allow masses of men to comfortably meet the gendered responsibility of the male breadwinner and other foundational aspects of masculinity?

Two angles follow from this: one, as researchers we need to take a more holistic approach to theorising (incorporating factors such as educational background, class, place of residence, ethnicity that influence people to engage in ‘criminal’ activity) and secondly, we need to constantly re-evaluate stereotypic notions that certain ethnic or age groups are led to criminal activity. In order to do this, the CGDS needs assistance with regard to expertise and funding from local NGO’s or community organisations. The kind of assistance that we source also depends on what our desired outcome is; are we aiming to produce a position paper that we can build on for a research proposal from which we can secure further funding? Throughout this, I think it is important that we document young men’s accounts (or whoever out target group will be) and their ‘rationalisations’ or descriptions of their actions. As researchers we need to understand the ideologies, physical circumstances, and decision-making processes of people who have been criminalised. Connected to this point is another central aspect of the project, how we define ‘criminal’ and how this is conceptualised both ideologically and legally. In this way the media representations and mental envisioning of the ‘criminal’ is a key aspect of the research.

The three researchers presented initial findings and discussions on this study at the 31st Annual Conference of the Caribbean Studies Association, Trinidad, May 2006.