Female Criminality and Victimization: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Introduction
The statement that women are frequently depicted as victims of crime and that female criminality is typically downplayed is a complicated and multifaceted topic. After researching the topic, one can see significant shifts in the perceptions of female criminality. At the same time, victimization of the female population persists, leading to unequal treatment and more lenient approaches. Therefore, although major developments have been made in the field, women are still regarded as individuals who require greater protection than their male counterparts.
Historical Perception
Gender roles and cultural expectations have often led to the marginalization or disregard of criminal activity by women. Due to the traditional perception of women as morally superior and the expectation that they adhere to social rules, their involvement in criminal activity was not acknowledged. However, it is noteworthy that perceptions of history have changed over the past two centuries, and there have been remarkable developments in the study of women and crime.
Numerous alterations may be attributed to the political and social endeavors of feminism. The 1960s and 1970s brought to light several important concerns that affected a wide range of social groups, particularly women (Mallicoat, 2022). The women’s and equality revolutions constituted a wave of social transformation that had a profound effect on society, and the criminal justice system was frequently discussed in these conversations (Mallicoat, 2022).
Here, the second wave of feminism addressed issues such as sexuality, legal injustices, and reproductive rights, in addition to the initial activists’ narrow focus on women’s rights and the right to vote (Mallicoat, 2022). Before this period, women were largely ignored in studies concerning crime and criminal conduct. When they were brought up, the conversation was stereotypical and sexist (Mallicoat, 2022). This is understandable given the dearth of female criminologists and the proportionately small number of female offenders in comparison to male offenders.
Additionally, women were rarely the subject of lengthy references or discussions in early studies on criminal behavior. In the 1960s and 1970s, a few of the first feminist criminologists emerged (Mallicoat, 2022). Most of these academics focused on questions of gender differences in criminal behavior and the criminal justice system’s responses (Mallicoat, 2022). Regretfully, these liberal feminists did not incorporate discussions that represented a multicultural identity; instead, they only addressed gender (Mallicoat, 2022). This kind of concentration produced a front-row picture of the women who committed crimes and the way the system dealt with their transgressions.
Evolution of Understanding of Female Criminality
Moving on, it is important to remember, nevertheless, that perceptions of female crime have changed over time and that new studies and scholarly works have illuminated the varied backgrounds and driving forces of female offenders. For example, the study by Shepherd and colleagues (2019) demonstrated that complex histories of trauma, child victimization, intimate partner violence, impoverishment, substance abuse, and mental health issues are described in study findings involving adult female offenders.
In fact, many of the risk factors and social obstacles noted either occurred recently or were actively experienced (Shepherd et al., 2019). One noteworthy and ostensibly significant incident that the participants mentioned included family disintegration or dysfunction (Shepherd et al., 2019). Many participants described moving out of the family home and into residential care facilities (Shepherd et al., 2019).
Furthermore, poly-victimization can be outlined as another factor contributing to female criminality. The results of Shepherd and colleagues’ study (2019) showed that over half of the sample had experienced “severe” physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. This confirms other research showing that compared to lower-risk or relatively fewer female offenders, serious offenders frequently had more severe victimization histories (Shepherd et al., 2019).
Additionally, participants reported that family members had significant mental health issues. This information may have exacerbated familial conflict, especially if the family members in question did not have access to psychiatric assistance or care (Shepherd et al., 2019). The cohort’s delinquent paths are more likely to have their roots in unstable and abusive familial situations during their early encounters (Shepherd et al., 2019). Outside of the family, close connections were likewise described as erratic and occasionally violent (Shepherd et al., 2019).
Furthermore, the majority of the individuals’ peer groups were delinquent and occasionally referred to as gangs. The participants’ reports of widespread substance misuse were frequently connected to their peer group’s drug use (Shepherd et al., 2019). Thus, one can see how the evolution in the perception of female criminality has shifted toward explanations of disruptive behaviors, socioeconomic factors, and psychiatric issues behind the matter.
Victimization of Women
Finally, it is true that historically, women have been more frequently represented as victims of crime than as perpetrators when it comes to victimization. The belief held by society that women are weak and in need of protection is the reason behind this. While some academics contend that women have received preferential treatment over men, others draw attention to the fact that women commit fewer major crimes overall, particularly fewer violent ones (Cruz et al., 2023).
To assist in explaining this potential difference is the idea that they are less likely to be recidivists (Cruz et al., 2023). While some claim that women are becoming more aggressive and involved in crime in general, others point to shifts in how formal social control is reacted to (Cruz et al., 2023). Therefore, a more lenient approach toward female offenders is adopted.
Moreover, in the legal system, women who commit crimes are treated less harshly than men. This is true if they exhibit behaviors and traits that are fitting for their gender (Estrada et al., 2019). The media treats women less harshly than it does men who commit comparable crimes (Estrada et al., 2019).
This stems from society’s belief that women are fragile and require protection. Responses from the criminal justice system have been influenced by these attitudes, with an emphasis on victim advocacy and assistance for women who have been abused or victimized. Not only is it critical to help and support victims, but it is also critical to acknowledge that women can commit crimes as well and to treat them fairly and impartially.
Conclusion
In summary, despite significant advancements in the field of criminal justice, female offenders are still viewed, in contrast to males, as people who need greater protection. Women who engage in criminal activities are frequently marginalized or treated with more mercy due to societal norms and gender roles. Because women were traditionally expected to follow societal norms and were seen as morally superior, it was not accepted that they were involved in illegal conduct.
Moving forward, it is essential to keep in mind that attitudes toward female criminality have evolved over time and that recent research and academic publications have shed light on the diverse origins and motivations of female criminals. Lastly, it is accurate to say that traditionally, when it comes to victimization, women have been portrayed more often as victims of crime than as offenders. As a result, although helping and supporting victims is important, one should be able to recognize that women may commit crimes as well as treat them equally and impartially.
References
Cruz, B., Lukić, N., & Strand, S. (2023). Gender perspective of victimization, crime and penal policy. In Gender-Competent Legal Education (pp. 467-502). Springer.
Estrada, F., Nilsson, A., & Pettersson, T. (2019). The female offender-A century of registered crime and daily press reporting on women’s crime. Nordic Journal of Criminology, 20(2), 138-156.
Mallicoat, S. L. (2022). Women, gender, and crime: Core concepts (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
Shepherd, S. M., Newton, D., Harries, C., Fix, R. L., & Fullam, R. (2019). An analysis of high-risk offending pathways for young females in custody. Psychiatry, Psychology, and Law, 26(2), 194–205.
