Feminism for the Mainstream Criminologist: An Invitation

• NCJ Number: 190119
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: July/August 2001 Pages: 271-285
• Author(s): Jeanne Flavin
• Editor(s): Kent B. Joscelyn
• Date Published: August 2001
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article explained some of the major feminist insights in the interrelated areas of theory, methodology, and policy to criminologists unfamiliar with feminism and presented an overview of how gender was addressed in the study and practice of criminal justice.

Abstract

Despite feminism’s impact on the study and practice of criminal justice, many scholars and practitioners lack an understanding of even the most basic aspects of feminist criminological thought. Historically, feminism has had a peripheral relationship to the discipline on the whole and mainstream criminologists had not been widely exposed to feminist perspectives. This had contributed to perceptions that criminology was about men and feminism was only about women. Therefore, these perceptions had caused criminologists and criminal justice practitioners to have a lack of understanding and appreciation for the importance of feminism’s contribution to criminology. To address this problem, this article explained some of the major feminist insights in the interrelated areas of epistemology, theory, methodology, and policy. Illustrated in the article, feminists engage in a variety of strategies, working as both insiders and outsiders to the criminal justice enterprise. Feminism challenged all people working in the discipline to be thoughtful and relevant. Thoughtful in the theoretical assumptions upon which the research was based, the methods used, the conclusions drawn, and the policies recommended. Thoughtful in developing the content of the classes taught, in acknowledging the limitations of criminological scholarship, in considering the complexities and diversity of the people’s lives and experiences upon which scholarship was based, and in communicating with research participants, students, and colleagues. Even though feminist perspectives posed a demanding set of standards, feminism presented an invitation to criminologists, practitioners, and policymakers to recognize the existence of sexism, to try to understand its causes, and to work toward identifying and overcoming all forms of discrimination operating throughout the justice system. References