Female sexual violence: differential sentencing, paternalism, and implications for research

Legal and health systems consider female sexual offending to be less serious than that perpetrated by males. Mental health professionals generally show more lenient attitudes towards female sexual offenders (FSOs) than they do towards male sexual offenders (MSOs), and typically consider victims who have been sexually abused by females to be less ‘harmed’ than those who have been sexually victimized by men. This paper reviews the extant literature on differential sentencing for female sex offenders, providing a theoretical rationale for possible discrepancies in treatment. This review also highlights the social structures and assumptions about gender, sexual agency, and perceived dangerousness that facilitate lenient treatment of FSOs. This paper will also provide directions for future research, as well highlight the clinical and legal implications of endorsing paternalistic attitudes regarding women and sexual violence.