Gender socialisation explains criminal behaviour through differences in how boys and girls are raised. Sutherland (1949) argued boys are encouraged to be aggressive and take risks, while girls are more closely supervised and taught to conform, making boys more likely to commit crime. Social learning theory supports this, suggesting boys often lack consistent male role models and instead learn masculinity through all-male peer groups, which may reward aggression and rule-breaking (Cohen, 1955). Heidensohn (1985) highlighted how patriarchal control limits women's freedom at home, work, and in public, reducing their criminal opportunities.
