Women, Crime, and Criminal Justice: Original Feminist Readings

Esteemed criminologists Renzetti and Goodstein’s volume of original essays covers a broad range of topics of concern to those who study women, crime, and criminal justice. The book’s approach affords the reader an opportunity to review alternative perspectives on women and justice--and compare them to more traditional explanations. This expands the reader’s knowledge base, spurs discussions, and addresses cutting-edge topics. Contributors include leading feminist criminologists such as Meda Chensey-Lind, Kathleen Ferraro, Nancy Jurik, Susan Martin, Susan Miller, Barbara Owen, and Elizabeth Stanko.

Coverage includes topics typically not found in other books on women, crime, and justice--such as corporate violence against women, violence against women as a human rights issue, battered women charged with crimes, and international law. All essays in the volume emphasize (1) the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, and social class in the etiology of women’s crime, (2) victimization, and (3) involvement in the criminal justice system.

A brief introduction precedes every reading; discussion questions follow. These encourage students to think critically about what they have read and go beyond the essay to learn more about the topics addressed. The book is divided into three sections. Each section features a thought-provoking introduction by the editors that provides a general overview and frames each selection in a larger context, which helps the reader understand the relevance of the selections that follow.