NCJ Number
225291
Date Published
2008
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This review of research relating to female sex offenders discusses impediments to defining, researching, and understanding this problem, with attention to gender roles, sexual scripts, legal definitions of sexual offenses, and attitudes toward female offenders.
Abstract
Research shows that female sex offenders, like their male counterparts, promote the cycle of sexual victimization through the subsequent behavior of their victims. Researchers have shown that victims of sexual abuse are more likely to victimize others in the future than those who have not been sexually abused. Studies show that female sex offenders are more likely than nonoffenders to have been the victims of sexual abuse at some time in their lives. A study of men who have been sexually aggressive toward women found that 80 percent had been sexually abused by a female during childhood. These research data confirm the view that sexual victimization promotes abusive sexual behavior by the victims. The prevention of sexual abuse by females must include changing prevalent views of female sexuality and gender-based sexual scripts. Whereas sexual abuse by males is viewed as prevalent, offensive, and particularly emotionally damaging to their victims, sexual offenses by females are viewed as rare, out of character for the gender, and less harmful to their victims compared to sex offenses by men. These views lead to underreporting by victims; victim blaming; and a tendency among victims to minimize the harms done to them, which makes it likely they will not seek victim services. Another factor that impedes the reporting and prosecution of female sex offenders is the failure of many sexual offense laws to take into account the abusive sexual behavior of females against males. 34 references