A Study of Gender Differences on Chinese Criminal Justice Practitioners' Death Penalty Opinions

Among Western studies of death penalty public opinion, one specific inquiry is on potential gender differences between men and women. While many studies conducted in the United States found a gender gap in which men exhibited significantly higher levels of support for capital punishment, studies of this gender gap in other nations are rare and the results are mixed and inconsistent. Based on a sample of 516 criminal justice professionals (CJPs) from one southern Chinese city, this study examines their death penalty opinions and explores if potential gender differences exist. Bivariate and multivariate analyses showed little significant differences between male and female Chinese CJPs, albeit women displayed lower levels of support in general. In rape crimes, however, female Chinese CJPs were more likely to favor capital punishment than males, after controlling for other variables. This study provides the first in-depth examination of gender differences of death penalty opinions among CJPs.