CRM 1300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Feminist School Of Criminology, Rape Myth, Atavism

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Criminology
• Course: CRM 1300
• Professor: Wahida Chowdhury

Document Summary

Due to minor role women play as criminal offenders. Violence against women not seen as crime. Move women and an analysis of gender to centre of criminological inquiry. Initial feminist contributions were critique of existing theories. Focus on sexism of theories used to explain women"s crime. Explanation of invisibility of women in mainstream theories of criminology. Focused on biological differences between men and women. Women = less intelligent, less sensitive to pain, more passive, more conservative than men. Female criminals = lack in maternal instincts, ladylike qualities, vile, cruel. Differences between men and women see as due to gender roles and socialization patterns. Culture creates differences between men and women by proscribing roles and behaviours as gender appropriate. Feminists challenged lack of societal concern about male violence against women. Questioned assumptions and beliefs of public"s understanding of problem. Cultural construction of rape riddled with myths and misconceptions. Women ask to be raped by clothing or behaviour.