Sex and Gender Differences in Crime

What You Need to Know About Sex and Gender Differences in Crime

The gender gap of committed crimes between the two sexes is universal, with females committing much less crime than males. There have been numerous studies studying gender, crime, and delinquency in light of understanding why men are more prone to higher rates of crime. There are also several factors that may be observed to help account for sex and gender differences in crime, such as social and cultural factors. Here’s everything you need to know about sex and gender differences in crime.

Observations Through Statistics

When looking at the terms “sex” and “gender” it is important to make the distinction that “sex” refers to individuals who are biologically male or female, while “gender” refers to the sociological, psychological, and cultural patterns used to evaluate male or female behavior. Statistically, men have uniformly experienced higher rates of crime. As illustrated in a 2012 FBI Uniform Crime Report of the U.S., men were charged with an offense approximately 4 million more times than women. In other words, men accounted for about 74% of arrests in 2012. This means that men are more likely to commit violent crimes in comparison to females.

There are also several approaches one can approach sex and gender differences in crime, such as considering physical/genetic differences between the sexes or societal factors. Furthermore, other factors that may be considered as to how patterns of female and male crime are shaped include:

Gender norms
Moral development
Affiliative concerns
Social control
Incentives
Physical strength and aggression
Motives and contexts for offending

Correlation Between Gender and Types of Crimes

Though it has been statistically proven that women are much less likely than men to commit violent crimes, rates of female involvement in property crime, such as petty theft and fraud, appear to be increasing. According to an article published by IZA, both men and women engage mostly in crimes against property, including burglary and white-collar crimes. Though it has been noted that property crimes represent almost 70% of total crimes for women and about 50% for men in prison. The study further details how more violent crimes are almost twice as common among men as among women.

Studies have also analyzed the factors that might help explain why men and women demonstrate differences in criminal propensity. These factors may include incentives that determine the benefits of engaging in illegal activity, the role of education in reducing the probability of incarceration, the role of labor market opportunities, the role of marriage, raising a child and household tasks, and gender discrimination in the crime market. Taking this all into account, one potential reason for increases in female-led crime may be the changes in social roles and technological progress women have experienced in the modern day.

Gender Differences in Sentencing Felonies

While taking into consideration sex and gender differences in crime, it is also important to note how gender plays a role in the sentencing of felonies. According to a 2006 article published by the Southwestern Social Science Association, many conducted studies have consistently found that female offenders tend to receive milder sentences than male offenders.

According to this same article, there are several explanations for why this difference occurs, including the “chivalry thesis” and “focal concern theory”. The chivalry theory essentially posits that gendered stereotypes about men and women influence the felony sentences they receive. Similarly, the focal concern theory points to the view that due to time constraints on judges for making decisions, they will tend to assign milder sentences to those stereotypically deemed to be less of a threat or blameworthy – in this case, female offenders.

Studies are still being conducted to help better recognize the factors that correlate with gender crime differences. This area of study is incredibly influential for understanding the inner workings of our criminal justice system, as well as how societal and psychological factors result in the statistics we see today.

FAQs About Sex and Gender Differences in Crime

How do sex and gender affect crime rates among adolescents?

As illustrated by a visual by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program (OJJDP), boys ages 0-17 have a much higher arrest rate than girls in the same age group. This may be linked to many of the same detailed factors used to explain differences in crime rates among men and women.

Does gender play a role in sentencing for specific types of crimes?

As researchers have concluded that gender plays a role in mild and harsh sentences overall, there is also empirical research to support the argument that gender plays a role in what types of crimes are given certain sentences. This correlates to theories such as the chivalry thesis and focal concern theory mentioned earlier.

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