Critically assess the gendered nature of traditional and contemporary theoretical perspectives within criminology

(T1) Assessment Brief Template

CRI6116 Gender and Crime

Module Title: Gender and Crime
Module Code: CRI6116
Assessment Type Coursework	Level  6	Weighting   100%	Word Count  3000
Submission Date 14 May 2025	Submission Time 15:00	Module Leader	Time Limit (for in person or oral assessments) N/A

Assessment Brief 

Assessment Information
Assessment Task (with genre/type)	Essay
Assessment Title	Choose ONE type of crime (homicide / domestic abuse / stalking / rape / prostitution) and do the following: Critically consider the extent to which the crime is gendered. Critically consider the implications of this for those affected by the crime.
Things to include:	You must ensure that within your essay, you: Clearly define the key terms of relevance to your essay, drawing on academic sources. Evaluate the contribution of relevant key module theories to understanding the crime you have chosen. Critically explore the impact of gendering – how does this affect offenders and victims? Draw upon examples of real cases to illustrate the points you are making.

Completion of this assessment will address the following learning outcomes:
1	Critically assess the gendered nature of traditional and contemporary theoretical perspectives within criminology.
2	Critically examine the gendered nature of the Criminal Justice System and the inequality this generates.
3	Offer a critical appreciation of the impact of gender upon the experiences of those who interact with the Criminal Justice System.
4	Competently research and present a piece of critical academic writing evaluating gendered inequalities in criminal justice.

Submission Information 

Present any written aspects of the assessment using font size 11 and using 1.5 spacing to allow for comments and annotations to be added by the markers. 

Complete the appropriate cover sheet for this assessment and append your work.   

This assessment will be marked anonymously and should show your student number only.   

Submit this coursework assessment task via Moodle.  

Late Submission 

Assessments must be submitted in the format specified in the assessment task, by the deadline and to the submission point published on Moodle.  Failure to submit by the published deadline will result in penalties which are set out in Section 6 of the Academic Regulations, available at: https://icity.bcu.ac.uk/Quality-Enhancement-and-Inclusion/Quality-Assurance-and-Enhancement/Academic-Regulations

Word Count 

The maximum word count for this module assessment is shown on Page 1. A +10% margin of tolerance is applied, beyond which nothing further will be marked. Marks cannot be awarded for any learning outcomes addressed outside the word count. 

The word count refers to everything in the main body of the text (including headings, tables, citations, quotes, lists etc.).  Everything before (i.e. abstract, acknowledgements, contents, executive summaries etc.) and after (i.e. references, bibliographies, appendices etc) is not included in the word count limit. 

Referencing Style  

Please delete as appropriate  

• BCU Harvard  
• OSCOLA 4^th Edition (Law) 
• APA 7^th Edition (Psychology) 
• MHRA (Conservatoire Postgraduate Students) 
• Chicago (English) 
• IEEE (alternative format for Computing and Engineering Ph.D students) 

More information on referencing is available here: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/library/services-and-support/referencing 

CRI6116 Gender and Crime – Assignment Overview

This assignment requires a critical analysis of the relationship between gender and crime. It explores how gender influences criminal behaviour, victimisation, and experiences within the criminal justice system. The task involves examining key theories, modern crime trends, and the impact of policies on different genders.

Key Areas to Cover:

1. Gender and Criminal Behaviour

   • Differences in crime rates between men, women, and non-binary individuals.

   • Theories explaining gender differences in offending, such as socialisation, biological theories, and feminist criminology.

2. Victimisation and Gender-Based Crime

   • How gender affects the likelihood of being a crime victim.

   • Issues like domestic violence, sexual offences, and online harassment.

   • The role of intersectionality (race, class, sexuality) in victimisation.

3. The Criminal Justice System and Gender Bias

   • How laws, policing, and sentencing may treat different genders unfairly.

   • The experience of women, men, and non-binary people in prisons.

   • Challenges faced by transgender individuals in the legal system.

4. Modern Developments and Case Studies

   • How technology has changed crime patterns (e.g., cybercrime, digital abuse).

   • Recent laws and policies affecting gender and crime.

   • Case studies of gender-related crime issues in the UK or globally.

Assignment Expectations

• Use academic sources, statistics, and case studies to support arguments.

• Apply criminological theories to explain gender differences in crime.

• Critically evaluate policies and suggest improvements.

• Ensure clear, structured writing with proper referencing.