This book was published as part of the Wadsworth Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice Series. Joanne Belknap is a professor at the University of Cincinnati.
This book is an intensive study of the disadvantages that women face in our society, particularly in their different roles. The roles she focuses on are the woman as a victim, as an offender, and as an employee of the criminal justice system.
The book opens with a chapter on theories of crime, discussing the theories of strain, subculture, differential association, labeling, social control, Marxism, radicalism, and women's liberation. This allows the reader to see how the theories overlap, and where they differ. This is a good sociological look at theory, but people who are not interested in sociology may want to skip this first chapter. I personally feel that it is a good introduction to what follows in this book.
The sections on women as offenders are Belknap's best. This is a subject that is rarely touched upon. Her discussion of the discrimination that women face in the criminal justice system is eye-opening. Also interesting is her description of the women's experiences while in jail or prison. Also interesting is her discussion of the importance of race and class in this equation.
Another part of this book is the way that Belknap explains how the role of women has changed over the years, through laws and also through social movements. She also discusses resistance to change.
I also recommend her chapters on battered women and the sexual victimization that occurs in this country. She discusses the similarities and differences in the experiences of women who are victims of stranger rape, date rape and marital rape, as well as the way the authorities deal with these women.
Recommended:
