What does the study of 'gender and crime' examine?

The study of 'gender and crime' primarily focuses on examining how gender influences crime rates and patterns of criminal behavior within society. This area of sociology explores the ways in which societal expectations, norms, and roles related to gender impact both the likelihood of individuals committing crimes and the types of crimes they are likely to engage in. It investigates how factors such as masculinity and femininity contribute to differing experiences of crime and victimization, suggesting that gender plays a significant role in shaping behavior and social outcomes related to crime.

Research in this field often delves into how socialization processes differing for males and females can lead to varying pathways into criminality and how these dynamics are reflected in statistical crime data. While there are important discussions about gender-specific experiences within the criminal justice system, the broader analysis covers the interplay of gender with social structures and situational contexts in understanding crime on a wider scale.