module specification

SC6056 - Gender and Crime (2025/26)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2025/26
Module title Gender and Crime
Module level Honours (06)
Credit rating for module 15
School School of Social Sciences and Professions
Total study hours 150
 
105 hours Guided independent study
45 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Coursework 100%   3000 word essay
Running in 2025/26

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)		 No instances running in the year

Module summary

The module investigates the relationship between gender and crime, and unpacks the debate on the individual as criminal or victim (sometimes both). You will examine the relationships between gender and crime, looking at a range of topics including gendered violence, female offending, masculinities and crime, sex crimes, sex work and sex trafficking, women drugs and drug trafficking, and media and crime. You will also consider key issues in current criminal justice policy and practice related specifically to women both as both victims and offenders drawing on feminist theories of crime.

The module aims:

● To critically examine the gendered nature of crime
● To understand the theories of gender and crime
● To explore key issues in current criminal justice policy and practice related specifically to women both as both victims and offenders
● To assess the differential impact of violence on and potential of crime prevention.

Prior learning requirements

Available for Study Abroad? YES

Syllabus

The syllabus will include coverage of topics such as those listed below.

Theories on gender and crime: this session explores key theories relating to gender and crime including feminist (e.g. social control and strain type theories) and intersectional perspectives (LO2).

Masculinities and crime: this session explores the relationship between  masculinity and crime and how masculinity is an indisputable predictor of crime  (LO2).

Gendered violence: this session explores the issues of domestic violence, its impact and consequences. It will also explore the ways in which the criminal justice system responds to victims of crime (LO1,3,4).

Sex crimes, gender and violence: this session explores various forms of sex crime and gendered violence including rape, sexual harassment and pornography. It will also cover the changing nature of sex crime e.g., sex crimes on the internet (LO1,3,4).

Sex work and sex trafficking: this session explores different ways in which sex trafficking has been conceptualised. It will look at the contexts of this complex and diverse phenomenon, as well as at the ambiguities of the responses enacted to assist victims of trafficking. It considers the sex industry and its relationship with trafficking and considers issues around choice and agency. (LO1,3,4).

Media, gender and crime: this session explores the media representation of gender and crime and the influence this has on our understanding/treatment of victims and offenders (LO1,3,4).

Female offenders: this session explores female offending with a particular focus on research on women drugs and drug trafficking. It also explores the ways in which the criminal justice system responds to women’s crime (LO1,2,3,4).

Women’s imprisonment and alternatives: this session explores women’s imprisonment and the alternatives including rehabilitation/probation. It also engages with key debates on the abolition movement (L01,3,4).

Women Working in the criminal justice profession: this session explores the experiences of women working in the criminal justice professions. (LO1,3,4).

Assessment workshop: assists students with expressing and defending, orally and in writing, evidence-based arguments (including Harvard referencing) (LO 1,2,3,4).

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

Each week, this module will be delivered through a one-hour lecture, and a two hour seminar or workshop. The reading and workshops will be supported by weblearn and students will be encouraged to engage in debate, presentations and web materials as well as attending lectures and seminars.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:


1. Understand the relationship between gender and crime
2. Demonstrate an understanding of key theories of gender and crime
3. Critically analyse the diverse forms of contemporary criminal justice responses  related specifically to women both as victims and offenders 
4. Assess the impacts and consequences of gendered violence.

Assessment strategy

There will be a 3000 word essay/report. This assessment will assess all of the learning outcomes (LOs 1-4) by requiring significant reading, demonstrating your understanding and, if aiming for higher marks, to engage critically with the issues addressed in the module.

Bibliography