Title: Gender and Crime | Encyclopedia.com
Headings: Gender and Crime
Gender and Crime
GENDER AND CRIME
Similarities in male and female offending rates and patterns
Differences between male and female offending patterns
Explaining female offending
Recent developments
A gendered paradigm of female offending and the gender gap
Summary
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Content: The percentage of female offenders reported by victims is very similar to (or lower than) the female percentage of arrests for comparable categories. Self-report studies also confirm the UCR patterns of relatively low female involvement in serious offenses and greater involvement in the less serious categories. From a variety of sources, it is clear that females are less involved in serious offense categories, and they commit less harm. Women's acts of violence, compared to those of men, result in fewer injuries and less serious injuries. Their property crimes usually involve less monetary loss or less property damage. Females are less likely than males to become repeat offenders. Long-term careers in crime are very rare among women. Some pursue relatively brief careers (in relation to male criminal careers) in prostitution, drug offenses, or minor property crimes like shoplifting or check forging. Female offenders, more often than males, operate solo. When women do become involved with others in offenses, the group is likely to be small and relatively nonpermanent.