Female Sex Offenders: A Comparison of Solo Offenders and Co-Offenders

Abstract

Even though much of the prior sex offender literature focuses on males, recent research has included females as offenders. Such research, however, has been limited by small sample sizes. Several researchers have proposed typologies of female sex offenders that include both females who act alone (i.e., solo offenders) and females who act with another person (i.e., co-offenders), often a male. The current research includes a cross-national sample of 123 females who were solo offenders and 104 who were co-offenders. It was found that the two groups of females were not significantly different in regard to their age, race, time of offense, and the location of the offense. Co-offenders were more likely than solo offenders to have more than one victim, to have both male and female victims, to be related to the victim, and to have a nonsexual offense in addition to the sexual offense listed.

Assessing female sexual offenders’ motivations and cognitions: an exploratory study

“…The present study has found evidence for a cluster of female sex offenders for whom sexual gratification is a sole motivation and another for whom this sexual motivation co-exists with other motivations of fear. The results from the present study also supports evidence collated by Vandiver (2006) that some female sexual offending is a result of coercion by a violent co-perpetrator. Johansson-Love and Fremouw (2006) stress the need for further development of typologies and cognitive distortion measures for female sex offenders.…”

A Qualitative Assessment of Registered Female Sex Offenders

“…The typical female sex offender is relatively young, in her 20s or 30s (Faller, 1987;Farrell, 1988;Lewis & Stanley, 2000;Nathan & Ward, 2002;Vandiver & Kercher, 2004;Vandiver & Walker, 2002), and Caucasian (Faller, 1987(Faller, , 1995Rosencrans, 1997;Vandiver, 2006;Vandiver & Kercher, 2004;Vandiver & Walker, 2002). Several researchers have also found a moderate degree of mental retardation, borderline cognition function, or brain damage in this population (Faller, 1987(Faller, , 1988Lewis & Stanley, 2000;Rowan, Rowan, & Langelier, 1990).…”

“…These offenders' levels of participation are speculated to range from passive to active (Vandiver, 2006). In a national sample of 227 women arrested for a sexual offense, approximately half of the women acted with at least one other person (Vandiver, 2006). Thus, in preliminary studies, nurturers and co-offenders appear to make up a substantial portion of women who sexually offend.…”

“…Co-offenders include women who sexually abuse with another person, typically a romantic male partner (Mathews et al, 1989;Mayer, 1992;McCarty, 1986;Nathan & Ward, 2001;Syed & Williams, 1996;Vandiver & Kercher, 2004). These offenders' levels of participation are speculated to range from passive to active (Vandiver, 2006). In a national sample of 227 women arrested for a sexual offense, approximately half of the women acted with at least one other person (Vandiver, 2006).…”

Accounting for the ‘invisibility’ of the female paedophile: an expert-based perspective from South Africa

“…Apart from studies such as these, female sexual offending is differentiated from male perpetration through an exploration of its differential effects. For example, the female paedophile appears to cause less physical harm to the child and to show a greater sense of guilt and acknowledgement of her role in the relationship with it (Vandiver, 2006); male victims often consider themselves to have initiated the sexual interaction and thus do not regard the interaction as abuse. In fact, older boys view this interaction as a positive rather than as a traumatic experience (Howitt, 1995;Travers, 1999).…”