British Left Realism on the Abuse of Women: A Critical Appraisal (From Criminology as Peacemaking, 1991, P 154-171, Harold E. Pepinsky, Richard Quinney, eds. -- See NCJ-138513)

• NCJ Number: 138517
• Author(s): W S DeKeseredy; M D Schwartz
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: Indiana University Press
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

British Left realism, a critical discourse that attempts to explain predatory street crime and propose short-term and socialist policies to control it, is described and evaluated on a key variant of feminist research: the abuse of women.

Abstract

The essay describes the history and basic principles of British Left realism, identifies the strengths and limitations of the radical realist position on female victimization, and outlines suggestions for further research and policy development. Left realists have failed to adequately integrate feminist concerns into their empirical work. Rather, their empirical agenda is dominated by a class-based analysis that considers female victims as "honorary members of the core working class." Realist criminology's neglect of major feminist critiques and concerns also emerges in their proposals for change. Efforts to find alternatives to the current system that are attractive to feminists have failed thus far. 1 note and 118 references