Gendered Perceptions of Child Sexual Abusers: The Paradox of the “Vulnerable Other”

Abstract

A growing body of evidence indicates that women who contravene traditional gender-role norms by committing sexual crime toward children are treated more leniently than their male counterparts. Such lenience has been explained by some scholars in terms of the “denial” thesis, which suggests that sexual scripts regarding masculine and feminine norms influence how society reacts to particular kinds of behavior. This study investigates the influence of gender-based attitudes and beliefs on practitioner perceptions of male and female child sexual abusers. It also explores whether and how gender-based ideals impact on practitioner punitiveness and discusses implications for policy and practice.