The aims of the module are to:
• Explore gender differences in offending, victimisation, and deployment in the criminal justice system
• Examine theoretical approaches in Criminology and their engagement with issues of gender
• Discuss the main ways in which gender impacts on the operation of the criminal justice system
Topics covered in the module will cover:
• gender and patterns of offending
• a critique of traditional criminology; feminist criminologies; masculinities and crime
• media representations of male and female offenders
• gender in the courtroom, penal system and policing
• women and men as criminal justice professionals
• gender, victimisation and fear of crime.
Contact time: 22 hours; Private study: 128
One coursework essay of up to 3,000 words (worth 50% of the
module and one examination (worth 50% of the module).
Students are required to purchase one set text: Walklate, S. (2000) Gendering Criminal and Criminal Justice, Devon: Willan Publishing.
The following books are also recommended:
Carlen, P. and Worrall, A. (1987) (Eds.) Gender, Crime and Justice, Buckingham: Open University Press.
Davies, P. (2011) Gender, Crime and Victimisation, London: Sage.
Davies, P., Francis, P. and Greer, C. (2014) Victims, Crime and Society, London: Sage.
Heidensohn, F. (1996) (2nd ed.) Women and Crime, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Morris, A. (1987) Women, Crime and Criminal Justice, Oxford: Basil Blackwell
Silvestri, M. and Crowther-Dowey, C. (2016) Gender and Crime (2nd Ed) London: Sage.
Walklate, S. (ed) (2012) Gender and Crime, London: Routledge
Students will also be encouraged to make use of relevant websites, particularly the Home Office website.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
Use empirical data (including quantitative and qualitative data) to explore and explain different patterns of offending, victimisation and employment in the criminal justice system amongst women and men
Critically assess traditional criminological theory, feminist critiques and recent debates about the importance of femininity and masculinity to our understanding of criminal behaviour and the workings of the criminal justice system, through engaging directly with theoretical materials
Describe and evaluate the debates surrounding the differential treatment of women and men in the criminal justice systems as victims, offenders and professionals
Recognise and evaluate the main empirical and theoretical studies of gender, crime and criminal justice, as well as key policy documents and legislation
Identify and gather appropriate library and web based resources, make judgments about their merits and use the available evidence to construct an argument to be presented orally or in writing
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