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Female Perpetrators of Sexual Offences

Hales, Samuel and Gannon, Theresa A. (2022) Female Perpetrators of Sexual Offences. In: Brown, Shelley and Loraine, Gelsthorpe, eds. The Wiley Handbook on What Works with Girls and Women in Conflict with the Law: A Critical Review of Theory, Practice, and Policy. What Works . Wiley, West Sussex, UK, pp. 342-353. ISBN 978-1-119-57684-6. E-ISBN 978-1-119-87489-8. (doi:10.1002/9781119874898.ch24) (KAR id:93832)

Abstract

This chapter reviews the nature and scope of female-perpetrated sexual abuse, and evaluates gender-responsive approaches. It highlights where possible implications of literature on policy and treatment, and draws necessary comparisons with the male sexual abuse literature. Psychological and clinical literature has highlighted key demographic differences between male and female perpetrators of sexual offences. In an attempt to assess the differences between males and females who engage in sexually offending behaviors, early work into female-perpetrated sexual abuse focused on reviewing demographic and personal characteristics of perpetrators. This highlighted that females who engage in illicit sexual activities constitute a heterogeneous population with distinct treatment needs. The chapter aims to offer readers insight into how best to risk assess, manage, and treat females who engage in sexually offending behaviors, while addressing misconceptions about this oft-misunderstood population. Typological research highlights that there is at least one distinct subgroup of female sexual abuser who offends in order to achieve intimacy.

Item Type: Book section
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/9781119874898.ch24
Uncontrolled keywords: demographic characteristics, female perpetrators, female-perpetrated sexual abuse, gender-responsive approaches, male perpetrators, male sexual abuse literature, personal characteristics, sexually offending behaviors, treatment needs
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Samuel Hales
Date Deposited: 03 Apr 2022 09:05 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Mar 2023 00:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/93832 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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