Overview
This lecture examines gender differences in crime trends and victimization, using official statistics and surveys to highlight patterns and explanations in UK society.
Measuring Crime
- Crime levels are assessed using official police records and the Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW).
- The CSEW is an annual survey of about 20,000 people and includes unreported crimes (the "dark figure of crime").
- Self-report surveys ask offenders to admit their crimes, useful for comparing crime rates across gender, class, and ethnicity.
Gender Patterns in Offending
- 81% of violent crimes (e.g., assault, grievous bodily harm) are committed by males only; 12% by females only; 7% by mixed gender groups.
- Over the past five years, male-only violent crime increased by 6%, while female-only decreased by 7%.
- 28% of assaults involve two or more offenders; 1 in 5 violent crimes committed by four or more people.
- Robbery is overwhelmingly male-dominated: 89% by male-only groups, 5% by females only, 6% by mixed groups.
- Most robberies are committed by people aged 16-24 and typically in groups.
- These patterns support theories like hegemonic masculinity and subcultural theories.
Gender and Crime Types
- In criminal damage cases where the offender is identified, 72% are male, 15% female, and 13% mixed groups.
- The proportion of female-only offenders in criminal damage rose from 5% in 2010 to 15% in 2020.
- Less than a third of criminal damage cases can identify offender gender, so statistics may not be fully reliable.
Victimization Trends
- 20% of males and 18.9% of females reported being crime victims in the past year, excluding repeat offenses.
- Common perception is females are more often victims, but statistics show similar rates for both genders.
- Victimization rates are higher (30.7%) for people whose gender has changed from birth assignment versus those whose gender has not changed (20.8%).
- Mixed ethnicity groups have the highest victimization rates; white ethnic groups have the lowest.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Dark Figure of Crime — Unreported or undiscovered crimes not in official statistics.
- Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW) — Annual survey estimating crime rates, including unreported incidents.
- Hegemonic Masculinity — Cultural norm favoring male dominance and traditional male roles.
- Subcultural Theory — Explanation that certain groups develop values and norms encouraging criminal behavior.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Watch the next video on media reporting of crime for more on perceptions of victimization.
- Review theories of male socialization, especially hegemonic masculinity and subcultural theories.