What is the name of the sociological theory that explores why women offend differently than men?

Gendered pathways theory is the correct answer because it specifically addresses the unique ways in which women's life experiences influence their patterns of criminal behavior, setting it apart from theories focused on male offending. This theory emphasizes the significance of gender in understanding offending behavior, taking into account factors such as trauma, economic hardship, and relational dynamics that disproportionately affect women.

In contrast, social learning theory explores how behavior is learned through social interactions but does not specifically differentiate between male and female offending. Strain theory examines how societal pressures and stressors can lead to criminal behavior but does not explicitly incorporate a gendered perspective. Labeling theory focuses on how societal labels can influence an individual's self-identity and behavior, again lacking a direct analysis of gender differences in offending. Gendered pathways theory, therefore, provides a comprehensive framework to understand the variances in offending patterns between women and men.