Feminist Criminology and Gender Studies

Abstract

Feminist criminology refers to approaches to the study of crime, victimization, and the criminal justice system using a critical, feminist lens. There are many different theoretical approaches, including standpoint feminism, pathways theory, and engendering mainstream theories. These approaches have a critical analysis of how gender inequities shape crime and responses to crime, emphasizing the role of male hegemony in society. Feminist criminology began in the 1970s, with liberal feminist approaches, followed by examination of the roles of victimization and abuse in female offending. These early feminist works were informed by second-wave feminism. More recently, third-wave feminism has informed multicultural and postmodern approaches in feminist criminology. Feminist criminology may use quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approaches. The subject matter includes women as victims, women as offenders, women working in the criminal justice system, and masculinities and crime.