The modern Criminology and feminist pathways perspective Flashcards
Explain what is meant by modern Criminology; refer to the major
theoretical perspectives and the theorists
Modern criminology, often referred to as the “Criminology of men,” initially overlooked
female crime, with traditional theories and perspectives primarily focused on male criminal
behavior.
This essay examines the significant reasons for this oversight in international and
South African contexts. Furthermore, it explores the emergence of the feminist pathways
perspective on women offending as a modern theoretical framework that rectifies the
gender bias in criminology.
Refer to the most common reasons advanced for the invisibility of
women offenders in modern Criminology
Modern criminology largely disregarded female criminality for several reasons, both
internationally and in South Africa:
Low Official Crime Rates: Internationally, one primary reason was the lower official crime
rates for women compared to men. This led to the perception that female crime was less
problematic, resulting in less research attention and policy focus. South Africa mirrored this
trend with its own low official female crime rates.
Androcentric Bias: The dominance of male criminologists and sociologists in both
international and South African contexts perpetuated an androcentric bias in criminology.
This skewed the field towards understanding male experiences and behaviors, often
marginalizing female criminality as a mere footnote
Explain the reason for the emergence of the feminist pathways
perspective on crime (when),
the value of the perspective,
and the early research findings upon which the perspective is based.
The feminist pathways perspective on women offending emerged as a response to these
issues and was developed primarily in international contexts before influencing South
African scholarship.
This perspective is highly valuable due to the following reasons:
UNIQUE RISKS AND CHALLENGES:
The feminist pathways perspective emphasizes the distinctive risks and challenges faced by women and girls, contributing to their criminal involvement.
These risks extend beyond gender-neutral factors such as education or criminal networks,
recognizing that gender-specific factors like victimization and mental health play a crucial
role in women’s offending.
DIVERSE CRIMINAL DEVELOPMENT: It acknowledges not only differences in criminal
development between men and women but also within groups of women, recognizing the
complexity of female criminal trajectories
EXPLANATORY AND PRACTICAL VALUE: The feminist pathways perspective offers explanatory value concerning the causes and progression of women’s offending. It is practical for addressing risks, identifying resources, and developing intervention strategies for women in
the criminal justice system.
Give an in-depth discuss at least four (4) notable international contributions to the feminist pathways perspective
Several international contributions have significantly advanced the feminist pathways
perspective:
Gilfus: Through qualitative analysis, Gilfus elaborated on themes of violence, neglect, and
loss in the backgrounds of female offenders, highlighting the gendered nature of women’s
options within criminal subcultures.
Daly: Identified typologies of women offenders based on their pathways to crime, including
“harmed and harming women” and “street women.”
Richie: Explored the role of racial and gendered marginalization in women’s pathways to
crime, revealing distinct pathways, especially for battered black women.
Simpson, Yahner, and Dugan: Quantitatively tested factors represented in Daly’s typology,
identifying distinct groups of women offenders, such as “street women” and “harmed and
harming women.”
Explain two (2) South African contributions to the feminist pathways
perspective
it should be apparent how local researchers’ approach is different from international approaches.
South African researchers have made noteworthy contributions to the feminist pathways perspective, emphasizing the importance of context-specific and culturally sensitive approaches:
The Pathways Project: Conducted in 2012, this project used a context perspective to explain
the criminality of incarcerated South African women.
It highlighted the interconnectedness
of factors in shaping women’s criminal choices, emphasizing the impact of socioeconomic
disadvantages, gender roles, and victimization.
Dastile and Agozino: Critically discussed the application of Western theories to South
African women offenders and underscored the need to understand the impact of cultural,
racial, and gender factors on women’s criminal pathways. They emphasized that South
African women experience unique forms of oppression and resistance that must be
accounted for in research.
Conclusion
The exclusion of female crime in modern criminology was driven by low official crime rates and an androcentric bias that prioritized male experiences.
The feminist pathways
perspective, which emerged in response, has brought a much-needed focus on the unique
risks and challenges women face in their pathways to offending. This perspective is valuable both in international contexts and, notably, in South Africa, where researchers have emphasized the importance of understanding cultural and societal factors shaping female
criminal behavior.
Overall, the feminist pathways perspective offers a more holistic understanding of women offending, leading to more effective policies and interventions in both international and South African criminal justice systems
