How the construction of women in discourse explains society’s challenge in accepting that females commit sexual offences against children
Journal of Criminal Psychology
ISSN: 2009-3829
Article publication date: 2 December 2019
Issue publication date: 2 December 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the way gender and gender roles are socially constructed by those who have experience of females committing sexual offences against children.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a discursive approach, supported by membership category analysis, a secondary analysis of qualitative data illustrates how the social construction of gender and gender roles impacts on society’s perception of females who commit sexual offences against children.
Findings
Discourse analysis found three patterns employed within conversation that demonstrate how the construction of women influence society’s incomprehension of females who commit sexual offences against children: women can be trusted, women do not manipulate and groom and, women are not sexually aggressive.
Research limitations/implications
A limitation of this study is the use of secondary data, which cannot provide the richness or detail found in primary accounts from people with this lived experience. The difficulty in accessing this sub-population highlights the hidden nature of the topic and the need for further research in this area.
Originality/value
This is the first study to explore how gender discourse is used in discussions of females who commit sexual offences against children. The value of this exploration highlights the need of society to adjust their perceptions of the offending capabilities of women and to ensure the experiences of people who experience this form of sexual abuse receive support.
Keywords
Citation
de Motte, C. and Mutale, G. (2019), "How the construction of women in discourse explains society’s challenge in accepting that females commit sexual offences against children", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 155-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-07-2019-0024
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited