A focus on female perpetration might be skeptically viewed as an attempt to upend a women's rights agenda focused on male-perpetrated sexual victimization. But attention to female perpetration need not negate concern about other forms of abuse. Moreover, a close look a sexual victimization perpetrated by women is consistent with feminist imperatives to undertake intersectional analyses, to take into account power relations, and to question gender-based stereotypes.

This study analyzed four large surveys conducted by the CDC and the Bureau of Justice Statistics to estimate the prevalence of female sexual perpetration. Here is a summary of their findings:

From the CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey:

• Note: The CDC's definition of rape is limited to penetration of the victim, which means being "made to penetrate" does not constitute rape.

• Men and women had similar prevalence of non-consensual sex during the previous 12 months (1.6M women and 1.7M men)

• 19.3% of women and 1.7% of men report being raped during their lifetime

  • 6.7% of men reported being "made to penetrate" during their lifetime

• The vast majority of male (93.3%) and female (98.1%) victims of rape experienced abuse from male perpetrators

• When looking specifically at non-rape sexual victimization:

  • 92.5% of female victims report only male perpetrators
  • 68.6% of male victims report either female or both male and female perpetrators

• Heterosexual male victims were much more likely to report abuse by a female perpetrator (71.4%) than gay (21.4%) or bisexual men (34.2%)

• Lesbian victims were more likely to report abuse by a female perpetrator (14.8%) than bisexual (12.5%) or hetereosexual women (5.3%)

• Figure 1

From the BJS's National Crime Victimization Survey:

• Female perpetrators (acting alone) were reported in 28% of rape/sexual assaults involving male victims and 4.1% of incidents involving female victims
  • Incidents involving at least one female were reported in 34.7% of incidents involving male victims and 4.2% of incidents involving female victims
• During incidents involving a female perpetrator, 57.6% of male victims and 41.4% of female victims report being attacked by the perpetrator
• Figure 2

From the BJS's National Former Prisoner Survey and National Survey of Youth in Custody:

• Incarcerated women are more likely to be abused by other women inmates than by male staff
  • 4.4% of former women prisoners reported staff sexual victimization
  • 13.7% reported sexual victimization by other inmates
• Men/boys are disproportionately incarcerated and therefore overrepresented among victims (Therefore women are disproportionately represented among all staff abusers)
  • Among all adult prisoners reporting staff sexual victimization, 80% report only female perpetrators
  • Among all juveniles reporting staff sexual victimization, 83.9% report only female perpetrators
• Gay and bisexual men and women were 2-3x more likely to report staff sexual victimization than heterosexuals
• Women were more likely to experience sexual victimization perpetrated by female inmates (13.7%) than men by male inmates (4.2%)
• Figure 3 and Figure 4

From the conclusion of the paper:

In light of this new federal agency data demonstrating that female sexual perpetration is more widespread than previously known, we have sought to enumerate the gender stereotypes fueling its neglect. We call for feminist approaches – expansively interpreted – to challenge these stereotypes, making room to consider women who are abusive, power seeking, and sexually aggressive, while taking into account the troubled background many such women possess.

Unless we uproot the simplistic stereotypes that limit understandings about sexual victimization, we will not address it accurately, nor will we respond to victims empathically. Those victimized by women are doubly harmed when we fail to treat their abuse as worthy of concern.

Further, we recommend that law enforcement officials, care professionals interacting with perpetrators and victims, and policymakers apply a new awareness of the frequency and impact of female perpetration in practice, so as to address sexual victimization comprehensively. This includes taking account of issues specific to lesbian and bisexual women, youth, people of color, and incarcerated persons.

L. Stemple, A. Flores, I. H. Meyer, Sexual victimization perpetrated by women: Federal data reveal surprising prevalence. Aggression and Violent Behavior (2016).

Abstract: This article examines female sexual perpetration in the U.S. To do so, we analyzed data from four large-scale federal agency surveys conducted independently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2008 through 2013. We found these data to contradict the common belief that female sexual perpetration is rare. We therefore reviewed the broader literature to identify patterns and provide context, including among high-risk populations such as college students and inmates. We recommend that professionals responding to this problem avoid gender stereotypes that downplay the frequency and impact of female sexual perpetration so as to comprehensively address sexual victimization in all forms.