Posted: January 26th, 2024
How prevalent criminal theories marginalize women, according to feminist criminology
How prevalent criminal theories marginalize women, according to feminist criminology
Feminist criminology is a branch of criminology that attempts to explain the causes and outcomes of criminal behaviour from a particular perspective: namely, that of women (Pretty Progressive, 2020). It emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s as a reaction to the general disregard and discrimination of women in the traditional study of crime, which was largely based on male subjects and focused on male criminality (Wikipedia, 2021). Feminist criminology aims to address the role of sex and sexism in sentencing and imprisonment, the role of victimization in women’s lives, and the increase in the number of incarcerated women despite declining crime rates (Wikipedia, 2021).
One of the key issues that feminist criminology explores is how prevalent criminal theories marginalize women and fail to account for their specific needs and risk factors. According to Belknap (2015), there are six main feminist perspectives in criminology: liberal feminism, radical feminism, Marxist feminism, socialist feminism, postmodern feminism, and intersectional feminism. Each of these perspectives has its own critique of the dominant criminal theories and their implications for women.
Liberal feminism argues that inequality and sexism permeate all aspects of the social structure, including employment, education, and the criminal justice system. To create an equal society, these discriminatory policies and practices need to be abolished. From a criminological perspective, liberal feminists argue that women require the same access as men to employment and educational opportunities (Belknap, 2015). However, this perspective fails to consider how women’s needs and risk factors differ from men’s, and how the criminal justice system may not be able to provide equal treatment for women (Belknap, 2015).
Radical feminism views the existing social structure as patriarchal, meaning that men structure society in a way to maintain power over women. Violence against women functions as a means to further subjugate women and maintain men’s control and power over women. The criminal justice system, as well, becomes a tool utilized by men to control women (Winterdyk, 2020). Radical feminists argue that it is only through removing the existing patriarchal social structure that violence against women can be addressed (Winterdyk, 2020). However, this perspective may overlook the agency and diversity of women, and may not account for other forms of oppression that affect women’s lives (Belknap, 2015).
Marxist feminism applies the Marxist analysis of class struggle and capitalism to the oppression of women. It argues that women are exploited by both patriarchy and capitalism, as they are expected to perform unpaid domestic labour and reproductive work, while also being subject to wage discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. Marxist feminists contend that the criminal justice system serves the interests of the ruling class and reinforces the subordination of women (Winterdyk, 2020). However, this perspective may neglect the role of culture and ideology in shaping gender relations, and may not address the diversity of women’s experiences across different classes and races (Belknap, 2015).
Socialist feminism combines elements of Marxist feminism and radical feminism. It recognizes that both patriarchy and capitalism contribute to the oppression of women, but also acknowledges that other factors such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, age, and disability may intersect with gender to create multiple forms of disadvantage. Socialist feminists advocate for a transformation of both the economic and the political system to achieve gender equality (Winterdyk,
2020). However, this perspective may face challenges in developing a coherent strategy for social change that can accommodate the diverse needs and interests of different groups of women (Belknap,
2015).
Postmodern feminism challenges the notion of a universal or essentialist category of womanhood. It argues that gender is a social construct that is fluid and contingent on historical and cultural contexts. Postmodern feminists question the validity of grand narratives or metatheories that claim to explain women’s oppression or liberation. They emphasize the importance of language, discourse, representation, and identity in shaping gender relations (Winterdyk,
2020). However, this perspective may be criticized for being too abstract or relativist, and for losing sight of the material realities and inequalities that affect women’s lives (Belknap,
2015).
Intersectional feminism builds on the insights of postmodern feminism and socialist feminism. It argues that gender is not a singular or isolated category of analysis, but rather intersects with other categories such as race, class, sexuality,
ethnicity,
religion,
and nationality
to produce complex
and
dynamic
forms
of
oppression
and
resistance.
Intersectional
feminists
seek
to
understand
how
different
groups
of
women
experience
crime,
victimization,
and
justice
in
different
ways,
and
how
they
challenge
the
dominant
criminal
theories
that
marginalize
them
(Winterdyk,
2020).
However,
this
perspective
may
face
difficulties
in
balancing
the
recognition
of
difference
with
the
need
for
solidarity
and
collective
action
(Belknap,
2015).
In conclusion, feminist criminology is a diverse and dynamic field of study that critiques the prevalent criminal theories that marginalize women and fail to account for their specific needs and risk factors. It also offers alternative perspectives and solutions that aim to achieve gender equality and justice for women.
References
Belknap, J. (2015). The invisible woman: Gender, crime, and justice. Cengage Learning.
Pretty Progressive. (2020). What is feminist criminology? Retrieved from https://prettyprogressive.com/what-is-feminist-criminology/
Wikipedia. (2021). Feminist school of criminology. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_school_of_criminology
Winterdyk, J. (2020). Feminist criminology. In J. Winterdyk & R. Jones (Eds.), The Palgrave handbook of criminology and the global south (pp. 101-122). Palgrave Macmillan.