gender and crime chapter 4

Gender-Related Crimes

Offenses more likely committed by one gender, such as sex work being female-gender-related. 

Gender-Neutral Crimes

Offenses equally likely to be committed by any gender, such as property crimes.

Gender Stereotypes

Preconceived notions influencing expectations and perceptions of male and female offenders.

Legal Code Applications

The enforcement and interpretation of laws, which may still reflect gender biases even if the laws are neutral.

Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)

Annual crime data reported by police departments nationwide, widely used to measure crime trends.

National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)

A detailed crime reporting system that includes information about incidents, victims, offenders, and arrest data.

National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

A federal survey capturing crime rates based on victims’ self-reports, addressing unreported crimes.

Self-Reported Offending

Surveys where individuals disclose their own criminal behavior, providing data beyond official records. 

Gender Gap in Crime

The statistical difference in crime commission and arrests between males and females.

Index Crimes

Serious offenses grouped into violent crimes (e.g., murder, assault) and property crimes (e.g., burglary, larceny).

Non-Index Offenses

Lesser criminal offenses that do not fall under the FBI’s index crime classification, including prostitution and embezzlement.

Commercialized Vice

Crimes related to illegal businesses such as prostitution, gambling, or illicit drug sales.

Women’s Liberation Emancipation Hypothesis (WLEH)

A theory suggesting that increasing gender equality would lead to higher crime rates among women.

Moral Panic

A social reaction characterized by heightened fear and exaggerated responses to perceived threats.

Gender Convergence

A pattern where gender differences in crime rates decrease over time. 

Gender Divergence

A pattern where gender differences in crime rates widen over time.

Net Widening

Expanding the definition of offenses to include more minor behaviors, leading to increased arrests, particularly among women and girls.

Feminization of Poverty

The increasing prevalence of women in low-income conditions, influencing survival-related offenses.

Self-Reported Crime Data

Surveys where individuals anonymously disclose their own offending behavior, often considered more accurate than police reports.

Up-Criming

The practice of reclassifying minor infractions into more serious criminal offenses.

Economic Marginalization Hypothesis

The theory that worsening economic conditions for women lead to increased crime rates.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

The percentage of alcohol in a person's bloodstream used to determine legal intoxication limits.

Intersectionality

The interconnected nature of social categories such as race, gender, and class, affecting individual experiences.

Victimization

The process of being harmed or subjected to crime, often disproportionately affecting marginalized groups.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

An individual's or group's economic and social position relative to others, based on income, education, and occupation.

Crime Reporting Bias

The tendency for certain crimes or groups to be underrepresented or misrepresented in official crime data.

Co-Offending

Committing crimes in collaboration with others, as opposed to solo offending.

Corporate Crimes

Illegal activities committed by individuals or groups within a business or organizational context.

Sexual Abuse/Assault

Crimes involving non-consensual sexual acts or exploitation.

Childhood Abuse Victimization

Experiences of harm or neglect during childhood, often linked to later criminal behavior.

Coercion

The act of compelling someone to act against their will through threats or force.

Career Criminal

An offender who repeatedly engages in criminal behavior throughout their lifetime.

Status Offenses

Crimes that apply only to juveniles, such as truancy or underage drinking.

Desistance

The process by which an individual ceases engaging in criminal activity.

Economic Marginalization

The exclusion of certain groups from economic opportunities, increasing their likelihood of committing survival-related offenses.

Institutional Neglect

Systemic failure to provide adequate resources and support to marginalized groups.

Self-Report Surveys

Research tools used to assess actual offending rates, often revealing disparities in official crime statistics.

Neighborhood Disadvantage

The presence of social and economic hardships within communities, affecting crime rates and behaviors.

Sexual Minority Status (SMS)

A term encompassing individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex.

Sexualization of Adolescence

The societal framing of young females primarily in terms of their sexuality and expected gender roles.

Homophobic System

Institutional or societal practices that discriminate against individuals based on their sexual identity.

Borderlands

Social or cultural spaces where marginalized individuals navigate conflicting identities and discrimination.

Masculine Gender Identity

A self-concept associated with traditionally male-associated traits and behaviors, influencing patterns of offending.

Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

Severe mental health conditions that impair daily functioning, often linked to criminal behavior.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A psychiatric disorder caused by experiencing or witnessing trauma, contributing to criminal behavior in some cases.

Substance Use Disorder

Chronic misuse of drugs or alcohol, often intertwined with criminal activity.

Psychosocial Functioning

A person’s ability to interact socially and maintain mental well-being.

Lucrative Crimes

High-profit criminal activities often dominated by male offenders.