IN ADDITION, AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO IDENTIFY THE MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE NATURE OF FEMALE CRIMINALITY WHICH UNDERLIE THE NOTION THAT WOMEN ARE, IN GENERAL, EXPOSED TO A 'CHIVALROUS' JUSTICE SYSTEM. THREE CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE FEMALE OFFENDER WHICH HAVE INFLUENCED THE PERPETUATION AND SURVIVAL OF THE (CHIVALRY' PROPOSITION ARE DISCUSSED: THE INSTIGATIVE FEMALE OFFENDER (A MANIPULATIVE FEMALE WHO CONS MALE CRIMINALS INTO DISPLAYING A CHIVALROUS ATTITUDE TOWARD HER); THE SEXUALIZED FEMALE OFFENDER (WOMEN WHO TURN TO CRIME FOR PURELY SEXUAL REASONS); AND THE PROTECTED FEMALE OFFENDER (THE IDEA THAT FEMALE CRIMINALS NEED TO BE PROTECTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM). THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE NOTION OF A CHIVALROUS JUSTICE SYSTEM IS LARGELY A MYTH, AND DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ARE SUGGESTED. A TWO-PAGE LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)