Feminist theory in criminology assumes the difference between the social roles of men and women. Hence, it questions a masculine-driven approach to criminal investigations and justice. According to Naegler and Salman (2016), gender plays a significant role in cultural criminology, impacting the way people see crime and justice, and defining crime policies and regulations. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how Daly and Chesney-Lind contributed to the discourse in criminological thought with their insights on feminist theory.
A feminist perspective contributed to the development of new theoretical frameworks in criminology. In particular, Daly and Chesney-Lind identified five major “distinctive features of feminist theory” (as cited in Lilly, Cullen, & Ball, 2018, p. 246). According to Daly and Chesney-Lind, the first feature refers to gender as a “complex social, historical, and cultural product” (as cited in Lilly et al., 2018, p. 246). The second feature is based on the fact that social life and institutions are formed as a result of gender relations. The third feature highlights the difference in the perception of men’s and women’s roles, with a shift towards men’s superiority in social, political, and economic fields. As per the fourth statement by Daly and Chesney-Lind, knowledge primarily reflects “men’s views of the natural and social worlds” (as cited in Lilly et al., 2018, p. 246). The fifth feature emphasizes the importance of placing women at the center of intellectual inquiry rather than at the periphery. All five features result from the view of gender as a social construct.
In conclusion, a feminist theoretical perspective on criminology suggested by Daly and Chesney-Lind has changed the perception of women in this field. The assumptions made by the researchers are based on the social, cultural, and economic differences between the two genders. The distinctive features reveal the dominance of a masculine point of view. Such a perspective offers a new approach to viewing women in crime and women working in criminal justice.
References
Lilly, J.R., Cullen, F.T., & Ball, R.A. (2018). Criminological theory: Context and consequences (7th ed.). The gendering of criminology: Feminist theory (pp. 233–271). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Naegler, L., & Salman, S. (2016). Cultural criminology and gender consciousness: Moving feminist theory from margin to center. Feminist Criminology, 11(4), 354-374. Web.