Douglass, Melanie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4665-2034 (2023) Female Offenders and Popular Discourse: Examining the Evidence. In: Perceptions of Female Offenders: how stereotypes and social norms affect criminal justice responses. Springer, pp. 39-55

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Abstract

Despite the decline in overt discrimination on the basis of sex in recent decades, benevolent sexism remains a serious issue in society. One of the principal areas where this problem exists is in the criminal justice system, where females are often portrayed as helpless victims, and where their offending is understated. This affects the legal system directly (through policy decisions) and indirectly (through media reporting). This chapter will provide illustrative examples of how the media discusses female offending. It will also use recent cases to illustrate how discourse is formed and maintained, and the effects this has on the criminal justice system. Thus, it will show how popular discourse is in opposition to the available evidence. It will also show the negative affect this has on women through denial of their agency and in hampering efforts to both understand and prevent offending behavior. The negative effect this has on society and victims will also be highlighted.

Item Type:	Book Section
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.1007/978-3-031-45685-5_3
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/11112

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