Theories of crime and deviance: feminist

Introduction to Feminist Theories of Crime and Deviance

Feminist theories argue that traditional sociological theories have often marginalised women by focussing on male offenders and victims.
They question the gender bias present in theories, and research, and how the criminal justice system handles crime and deviance.
They point out that some crimes are gender-specific, such as rape and domestic violence.

Liberal Feminism and Crime

Liberal feminists put emphasis on equality, suggesting that women’s increasing participation in crime reflects their evolving roles and experiences in society.
They argue that as women gain more social and economic freedoms, criminal opportunities increase.
This perspective questions whether women are treated equally in the criminal justice system, including whether female perpetrators are punished more harshly than men.

Radical Feminism and Crime

Radical feminists contend that the root cause of female crime and victimisation is patriarchy, a system that privilege men and disadvantage women.
They highlight crimes of male power, such as sexual violence, as an expression of patriarchal control.
They demand changes in laws and greater societal recognition of crimes against women.

Marxist Feminism and Crime

Marxist feminists focus on the intersection of gender and class, claiming the capitalist system exploits both women and the working class.
They consider how female criminality often stems from socio-economic disadvantage, and view domestic violence as rooted in class as much as gender.
They argue for a restructuring of both the economic and gender systems to achieve social justice.

Postmodern Feminism and Crime

Postmodern feminist theories consider how gender identities are fluid and do not fit neatly into categories such as ‘male’ or ‘female’.
They criticise mainstream theories for essentialising women as victims, and men as perpetrators.
They believe in creating individual narratives of crime and deviance rather than overarching theories.

Evaluating Feminist Theories of Crime and Deviance

Feminist theories have been commended for highlighting gender bias in criminology and sociological theories.
They have significantly contributed to the understanding and recognition of crimes such as domestic violence.
Criticism includes the feminisation of poverty thesis (women becoming poorer relative to men) which questions the relation between socio-economic equality and crime.
It’s also argued that feminist theories overlook the impact of other forms of intersectionality, like race and ethnicity, on crime and deviance.