In crime, women are 'more dangerous' than men

Antillean men are overrepresented in Dutch crime statistics, but it is their mothers and wives who keep crime going, says professor Marion van San.

The wives of Antillean drug criminals are often accomplices in their husbands' crimes. In many cases these women also raise their sons to be drug criminals, which keeps the cycle of crime going.

This is the conclusion reached by Marion van San as she prepares to take up her position as professor of youth and education of Antilleans at the University of Utrecht. The chair is financed by the municipalities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, two cities where Antilleans are overrepresented in crime statistics.

Van San's inaugural lecture, The appeal of 'dangerous' men, which is scheduled for next Monday, is an almost romantic account of the appeal of criminal men to certain women.

Van San compares women from the former Dutch colony Curaçao, whom she spent fifteen years researching, with the wives and mistresses of famous mafia figures. She sees an important parallel: both groups are irresistibly attracted to criminals and many get involved in crime via their husbands.

Why are these women so attracted to dangerous men?

"These men offer them a better life. If you read the biographies of the women, mistresses and wives of the mafia figures, almost all of them grew up in poverty. And they all love nice cars, expensive clothing, jewels and luxury. These men can offer them that. It is the same with the women in Curaçao. The nature and seriousness of the crime committed by Antillean drug criminals cannot be compared to that of the mafia. But these men too can offer women a better life financially.”

Is it only about the money?

“It is also about status. About power. At the side of their husband or boyfriend they go from being a poor wretch to a woman of stature. And it is also about love and passion. In the biographies of the mafia wives you read that they feel uncontrollably drawn to these men. They are macho, they emanate danger: don't kid around with me.”

Don’t the men tend to keep their women as far away as possible from the crime?

“There is definitely that impression. In the Cosa Nostra, for example, the men swear before joining the organisation that they will never tell their wives about the business that takes place. Women take care of their husbands and the family and don't need to know anything further. At first glance that seems to be the same for Curaçao women. Both women in the mafia and the wives of Antillean men who operate in the drug economy would prefer to be seen as innocent mother figures who are only there to serve their husband and family. But that impression is mainly created and kept alive by men. It is not accurate. The women often support their husband from home in his criminal practices. They hide weapons or fugitive friends, that kind of thing."

They do odd jobs?

“Yes, but these women have also become more active outside the home. In the 1990s Curaçao women started smuggling drugs themselves. They were also recruited for this, as women they were less conspicuous. They did not undergo any emancipation process like the mafia women. These Curaçao women are among the subclass, without money or education. For them this is their only chance of some prosperity. But the women make an even more important contribution to crime. They keep the dynasty going.”

What do you mean?

“The women often raise their sons to be dangerous men. It is the mothers who shape them, who teach them values and standards. I saw it when I was researching poor Curaçao women. They taught their children to always defend themselves against enemies, if necessary with violence. This is what they had always done themselves. So they prepare their children for a life in crime."

Why would they do that?

“A criminal son is attractive for the simple reason that he brings in money.”

Do they say: go out and steal?

“No, they do not deliberately encourage their sons to go into crime, but they often turn a blind eye. They don’t say anything if the son comes home with expensive things even though he is not working. If he drives around in an expensive car without having a steady income. And they say nothing if he slips them money. And these young men are in turn attractive to young women. The vicious circle is complete."

How can you break this cycle?

“Girls have to be closely coached to get their own income via education and work. Preferably work with some status, like in healthcare. Criminal men are less attractive to them then. Antillean mothers must be supported in raising children so that they do not raise their sons to be dangerous men. They are responsible for an important part of the problem, but also the solution."

Most projects now focus on the young men involved in crime.

“Exactly. They are also often temporary, without coherence or structure. The only solution is a robust, intensive and structural programme that focuses on Antillean girls and women. That is expensive of course, but ultimately it will pay for itself. Because you don’t want to know how much this crime is costing us.”