Female OffendingFrequency and Nature

Gender Related vs. Gender Neutral

O Gender Related: More likely to be committed by either sex.

O Gender Neutral: Equally likely to be committed by either sex.

Crime RatesO Gender Stability: Male and female

rates rise and fall the same.

O Gender Divergence: Increasing differences between men and women.

O Gender Convergence: The gaps between men and women decrease and their rates are becoming similar.

Who Chooses What Crime?

1. Violent Offenses2. Shoplifting3. Rape4. Sex Work

Extent of Female Offending

O Sources:

1. Arrest records

2. Victimization reports

3. Self-reports

UCR Trends 1980-20001. Males and females arrest rates are up for less serious offenses.

2. The highest rise larceny, fraud, substance abuse, misdemeanor assaults.

3. Prostitution is chief form of offending for women.

NCVS Findings

1. Percentage of female offenders is the same since the 1970s.

2. Women: 10% of robberies, 14% of aggravated assaults, and 20% of misdemeanor assaults.

Source DependentO Regardless of measurement, males

offend 5 to 10 times higher than females.

O Official/police statistics indicate that the gender gap is closing.

O Self report indicates that the gender gap is stable or diverging.

O Majority of all offenses are male-gender related.

O Prostitution and running away are two female gender related offenses.

O Two offenses, embezzlement and

fraud, are gender neutral.

Liberation Hypothesis:O Posits that as women gain equality their

crimes will mirror those committed by men.

O Does it hold up?

O Gender Stability is the norm.

O Any pattern over time is relatively stable.

O Female and male rates rise and fall together.

Girls and GangsO Why do girls join gangs?

O Are gangs homogeneous or heterogeneous?

O Influential factors

Girls and Gangs

O Traditionally viewed as accessories or auxiliaries.

O Their role was to serve as sex objects and provide alibis for male gang members.

O It was a widely held belief that gang violence was perpetrated solely by males.

Robbery and BurglaryO Gender related

O Gender differences exist.1. Females more likely to work

with males2. Females more likely to be

drug addicts3. Males start at an earlier age.4. Males commit more.5. Males enter the system at an

earlier age.

Drug Use and SellingO Women and girls are more likely to be

introduced by husbands and boyfriends.

O Men and boys are more likely to be introduced by male friends.

O Women are more likely to exchange sex and companionship for drugs with a dealer or other users.

Drug Use and SellingO Both males and females often begin using

drugs out of curiosity and thrill seeking

O Continued use, though differ, where females are less likely to continue for thrill seeking.

O Crack for males: masculinity

O Crack for females: acting out

Drug Use and SellingO Selling drugs, though is that it is

much tougher for women to break into the market, except for marijuana.

O Crack selling excludes women

O Both are involved in manufacturing and selling methamphetamine.

Nonlethal and Lethal Child Abuse

O Long considered a female-related offense.

O National studies indicate that men and women are equally likely to kill their children and stepchildren.

O Mothers are more likely to kill very young children.

O Males are more likely to kill children over 8.

HomicideO Men commit the vast majority of

homicides.

O Women are more likely to kill their current or former husbands or boyfriends.

O Males are more likely to kill another male

ImplicationsO Arrest trends from 1965-2000

indicate gender stability.O Differences related to

--policy changes, --worsening economic position

of women, --changes in data collection.