A general account of the arguments and evidence relating to the "chivalry thesis" is given, looking particularly at the issues in contention and at how recent researchers have sought to resolve them. Further, a number of mainly theoretical problems are identified, such as the sex-role theory. The discussion is then widened to include consideration of current feminist thinking on the question of sex, gender, and how to conceptualize sexual difference and the sex/gender order, and how this can be used to increase understanding of sexism in the criminal justice system.