Until recently, gender stereotypes have shaped the ways in which society views female offenders, often as individuals incapable of criminal activity or extreme violence. When Women Offend: Crime and the Female Perpetrator sheds light on the complex world of female offending, demonstrating women’s capability to behave aggressively and violate gender expectations.

Readers learn about the influence of gender stereotypes on perceptions of female offending, as well as about common myths associated with female deviance. They are introduced to criminological theory and explore psychological, developmental, sociological, and biological theories through a feminist lens. Dedicated chapters outline various types of female offending, from serial killing to Munchausen by proxy, filicide to sex offending, domestic homicide to terrorism, and more. Each of these chapters includes real-life cases and an exploration of motives and social factors. The book features excerpts from interviews with female offenders.

When Women Offend is ideal for courses in criminology and criminological theory, especially those focused on the female offender.