Feminist Criminology

This revised and updated second edition traces the growth of feminist criminology from the 1970s to the present, examining the diversity of feminist criminologies that have developed, the ways they have responded to and built on one another, and the future directions for research and activism to which they point us.

Feminist criminology grew out of the Women’s Movement of the 1970s, in response to the male, heteronormative dominance of mainstream criminology--which meant that not only were women largely excluded from carrying out criminological research but they were also rarely considered as subjects of that research. Other groups were also marginalized by the mainstream, either discussed with stereotypical framing or overlooked completely. While showing how feminist perspectives have made a significant impact on the discipline, the academy, and the criminal legal system, this book also highlights the limits of this influence. In doing so, it explores answers to key questions, such as how much feminist criminology has transformed research and knowledge production, education, and practice, and how feminist criminologists can continue to shape the future of the discipline.

Feminist Criminology will be of great value to undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty, researchers, and practitioners.

Claire M. Renzetti is the Judi Conway Patton Endowed Chair in the Center for Research on Violence Against Women, and Professor of Sociology at the University of Kentucky. She is editor of the journal, Violence Against Women; co-editor of the Interpersonal Violence book series, editor of the Gender and Justice book series, and editor of the Family and Gender-Based Violence book series. Her current research includes an evaluation of a horticultural therapy program at a shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence, and a study of students’ perceptions of justice in campus sexual assault cases.

Carrie L. Buist is Associate Professor in the School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies at Grand Valley State University. She has co-authored and co-edited several books on topics ranging from queer criminology, media and crime, bridging theory and praxis, intersectionality, and more. Her current research and teaching centers on police and student partnerships in solving cold cases.