Criminal Behaviour - Gender Socialisation

• Whenever statistics regarding criminal behaviour are considered, one finding nearly always presents itself, a gender difference
• Women are far less likely to commit, be charged with, or indeed imprisoned for criminal behaviours in comparison to men
• In 2022 approximately 96% of the UK's prison population was male
• Socialisation


  The process by which we learn the norms, customs and skills necessary to participate in our society
• Socialisation experiences of boys and girls

  Reinforces behaviour that may encourage criminality in boys and discourage it in girls
• Socialisation of boys


  • Encouraged to be risk-takers and to be tough
• Socialisation of girls


  • More closely supervised and controlled, leading to a more conformist personality type than boys
• Differences in socialisation


  Become ingrained and lead to more young men becoming criminals, as they have the inclination and opportunity to commit more crime
• Social control of women

  • Greater time and movement restrictions placed on them by their domestic roles, such as caring for young children
  • The 'glass ceiling' prevents women from rising to senior positions and having fewer opportunities to commit white collar crimes
  • The way the media reports on crime such as rape increases the fear women have for being out in public, especially alone at night, causing them to stay at home and have less opportunity to commit crime
• These differences in socialisation and social control could explain the gender differences in criminal behaviour