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Interdisciplinary research in psychology, sociology and criminology combine in this myth-shattering work on perceptions of female offenders. It deploys evidence-based research to show how stereotypical perceptions prejudice judicial responses to women.

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_Female offenders are often perceived as victims who commit crimes as a self-defense mechanism or as criminal deviants whose actions strayed from typical ´womanly´ behavior. Such cultural norms for violence exist in our gendered society and there has been scholarly debate about how male and female offenders are perceived and how this perception leads to differential treatment in the criminal justice system. This debate is primarily based upon theories associated with stereotypes and social norms and how these prescriptive norms can influence both public and criminal justice response. Scholars in psychology, sociology, and criminology have found that female offenders are perceived differently than male offenders and this ultimately leads to differential treatment in the criminal justice system. This interdisciplinary book provides an evidence based approach of how female offenders are perceived in society and how this translates to differential treatment within the criminal justice system and explores the ramifications of such differences. Quite often perceptions of female offenders are at odds with research findings. This book will provide a comprehensive evidence-based review of the research that is valuable to laypersons, researchers, practitioners, advocates, treatment providers, lawyers, judges, and anyone interested in equality in the criminal justice system. _

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_Introduction.- The Social Construction of Norms: How Social Media Depicts Female Offenders.- Female Sexual Aggression on College Campuses: Prevelence, Correlates, and Perceptions.- Effects of Victim Gender, Age, and Sexuality on Perceptions of Sexual Assaults Committed by Women.- Intimate Partner Violence: Examining Evidence of Gender Symmetry.- Partner Abuse in Context: Control Tactics, Dominance, and the Role of Gender.- Genders Compared: How Perceptions of Dangerousness and Legal Intervention Differ by Gender.- The Impact of Familial Paternalism on Sentencing Decisions.- References.- Index.__

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From the reviews:
"This book is a fine introduction to the literature and the controversies surrounding perception of female offenders. It is available both in print and as an e-book. ... Researchers entering this area should also find the book to be a useful resource text, especially in combination with the PASK, and, for clinical professionals who deal with female offenders, it is an excellent continuing education experience that can bring them closer to the empirical foundations of their work." (Thomas E. Schacht, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 58 (35), August, 2013)

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