The monograph is dedicated to the gender specifics of criminal liability and punishment of women under Russian law in the historical and current stage. It analyzes the correlation between differentiation, individualization of criminal liability and the principles of equality of citizens before the law, justice and humanism through the prism of gender balance. The peculiarities of female criminality and the problems of criminal law characterization of crimes directly affecting women (Mother Murder of a newborn child, Illegal abortion) are studied. Special attention is paid to the institution of deferral of punishment for pregnant women and women with small children.