Sex, gender and crime

Gender is a key social dimension in our society but it was originally largely ignored by criminologists. In this unit you will critically examine how gender is constructed, how it shapes crime and the role gender stereotypes play in the operation of the criminal justice system. You will use key critical criminological, feminist, masculinities and queer theories to explore how social norms of femininity, masculinity and heterosexuality produce particular sexed understandings of crime and criminality. We will survey theoretical insights and contemporary understandings of the criminal justice system, popular and media representations, development of public policy responding to sex and crime, and critical assessments. Topics include sex and the nature of crime; femininity, masculinity and violence; and sexual violence.