Gender Considerations in Violence

Abstract

The role of gender in violence is poorly understood. Research has shown that gender has an important and, at times, distinct role in the prediction of violence. However, this gender disparity diminishes in the setting of mental illness. The risk assessment of violence in women is largely based on research in violent men. There are distinct characteristics in female violence compared with male violence. Attention to these characteristics may lead to the development of gender-dependent tools that can be used to evaluate violence risk.

Keywords: Female stalkers; Gender; Gender bias; Intimate partner violence; Risk assessment; Violence; Women.