Content area
Full Text
Abstract
This paper deals with the dimensions of feminism and the critique of 'mainstream' criminology as male-stream criminology and the impact of feminism on Criminological theory on the one hand and on Criminal Justice Practice on the other. Feminist Criminology deals with three major dimensions i.e. women as criminal, women as victim of crime and women in criminal justice system. Therefore, the paper is an attempt to discern the impact of Feminist Criminology on the 'women in conflict with law'. The sexism in criminology influence sentencing of women who are not supposed to be criminals. If they are, they are 'mad' not 'bad'. The aim of the paper is to identify some important issues like female criminals should be considered as "doubly deviant". Specific needs of female prisoners, which have been thoroughly ignored, should be identified. The inadequate police and criminal justice response to women's victimisation should be reformed. The paper concludes with observing the impact of feminism on criminological theory.
Introduction
The feminist school of criminology developed in the late 1960s and 1970s as a reaction against the gender distortions and stereotyping within traditional criminology. According to feminist school of criminology, the principal theories of criminality have been developed from male subjects, have been validated on male subjects, and focus on male victimization. The facts about crime tend to be based on the sex of the offender and not the crime itself. This 'sexism' in criminology also influences the sentencing, punishment and imprisonment of women who are not expected to be criminals. Gender role expectations continue to define acceptable behaviours and attitude for female and males' deviation. Researchers have shown that when cases of male aggression reach the court, gender is not marked. But this is not the case, however, when the defendant is a female. Therefore, feminist argue that criminological texts neglect the victimization of women offenders.
The paper on feminist criminology in India will certainly affect the all three dimensions of women as offender, women as victim and women as in criminal justice system in a positive manner. Against this backdrop, to discern feminist criminology and to expect its positive role over women in criminal justice system the paper has focused on feminism, criminology, feminist criminology and theories of feminist criminology.