Considering that in many societies a woman is lucky to hold status higher than brood mare or chattel, it could be argued that women merely have less opportunities to commit violent crimes, or a woman who does commit such a crime may be overlooked as a potential perpetrator due merely to belonging to the "weaker sex".

Women may also be less inclined to turn to physical violence as a first resort, not because of any actual lack in their capacity to consider or commit it, but because they are taught to distrust in their own strength, be it physical or mental.