Question

How do stereotypical gender roles in our society affect the types of crimes that are committed in the past and present? Does social learning play a role in gender roles and past stereotypes of gender roles with regard to the nature of criminal activity committed?

Answer 1

Gender roles impact the types of crimes that are committed in a number of ways, but many focus around the role of women in society. Women are often subject to crime as a result of domestic abuse or sexual assault which are related to gender roles such as male dominance. Social learning and past stereotypes of gender roles definitely influence the nature of crimes committed because men are taught through social learning to exhibit certain aspects of their gender which could lead to gender based crimes or crimes linked to their conceptions of self relative to their gender.