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Unlock This CourseOne of the most consistent patterns in crime statistics worldwide is the significant difference between male and female offending rates. This gender gap in criminal behaviour has been observed across different societies, time periods and types of crime.
Key Definitions:
Official statistics consistently show that men commit more crimes than women across almost all crime categories. Let's look at some key facts:
In the UK, men account for approximately 85% of all arrests and around 95% of the prison population. Men are significantly more likely to commit violent crimes, with over 90% of homicides being committed by males. Young men aged 16-24 have the highest offending rates of any demographic group.
Women make up only about 15% of arrests and 5% of the prison population in the UK. When women do commit crimes, they are more likely to be non-violent offences such as shoplifting, fraud, or drug possession. Women are less likely to reoffend after release from prison compared to men.
Sociologists have proposed several theories to explain why men commit more crimes than women. These explanations focus on social factors rather than biological differences.
One of the most important explanations for gender differences in crime relates to how boys and girls are socialised differently from an early age:
Boys are often socialised to be tough, competitive, risk-taking and aggressive. These traits can sometimes lead to criminal behaviour, especially when combined with peer pressure and expectations of masculinity.
Girls are typically socialised to be caring, nurturing and compliant. They often experience stronger social control from parents and are taught to value relationships, which may act as protective factors against criminal behaviour.
Male peer groups often encourage risk-taking and may reward antisocial behaviour. Female peer groups tend to place greater emphasis on relationships and emotional support, which can discourage criminal activity.
Two other important factors help explain gender differences in crime:
Heidensohn argues that women experience greater informal social control throughout their lives. They are more closely supervised as teenagers, have more domestic responsibilities and face stronger moral condemnation if they break social norms. This "control theory" suggests women have fewer opportunities to commit crime and more to lose if caught.
Traditional gender roles have meant men have greater access to opportunities for certain types of crime. For example, corporate crime is more common among men partly because they have historically dominated high-level business positions. Women's traditional domestic roles have limited their opportunities to commit certain types of crime.
The 'chivalry thesis' suggests that women are treated more leniently by the criminal justice system because police officers, judges and other officials (who are often male) are socialised to protect women. Research by Otto Pollak in the 1950s argued that female crime was significantly underreported because male officials were reluctant to arrest or prosecute women.
However, more recent research challenges this view. Studies show that when the seriousness of the offence and previous criminal history are taken into account, women do not necessarily receive more lenient treatment. In fact, women who commit 'unfeminine' crimes (like violent offences) may actually be treated more harshly because they've broken both legal and gender norms.
While men still commit the majority of crimes, female offending patterns have changed over recent decades:
In the 1970s, Freda Adler proposed the 'liberation thesis', suggesting that as women gained more equality in society, their crime rates would become more similar to men's. She argued that as women entered traditionally male domains like the workplace, they would also adopt more typically masculine behaviours, including criminal activity.
However, evidence for this thesis is mixed:
Contemporary research on female offending highlights several important patterns:
Women often have different pathways into crime compared to men. Research shows that female offenders are more likely to have histories of physical and sexual abuse, mental health problems and substance abuse issues. Many women in prison are serving sentences for non-violent crimes related to poverty or addiction.
Women's family responsibilities can influence both their criminal behaviour and their experience of punishment. About 60% of women in UK prisons are mothers and many were the primary caregivers for their children before imprisonment. The impact of maternal imprisonment on children is a significant social issue.
Research on female gang membership challenges stereotypes about girls' roles in gangs. While media often portrays girls as merely girlfriends of male gang members, research by sociologists like Jody Miller shows more complex realities:
This research shows how gender shapes criminal behaviour even within similar social contexts.
When studying gender and crime, it's important to think critically about the data:
Gender is one of the strongest predictors of criminal behaviour, with men significantly more likely to commit crimes than women across most categories. This difference can be explained through sociological factors including:
While the gender gap in crime remains significant, female offending patterns have changed over time, reflecting broader social changes. Understanding these patterns helps sociologists develop more comprehensive theories of criminal behaviour that account for the important influence of gender.