Feminist School of Criminology - Victimology

Victimology

Feminist argue criminological texts neglect the victimisation of women; the victimisation of women is forgotten:

• Three out of four women will be victims of violent crimes during their lives.
• Violence is the leading cause of injuries to women aged 15 to 44.
• 50 per cent of homeless women and children are fleeing domestic violence.
• Less than 1 per cent of rape victims have collected damages.
• Domestic violence costs the state between 5-10 billion each year.

Feminists argue these figures would not be ignored if society was not so accepting of female exploitation. Domestic violence and rape are increasingly being reported, as they have been given greater significance and a deeper understanding by society. Past generations of women have suffered in silence due to the lack of importance the police and criminology have afforded women’s victimisation.

Another criticism levied at criminology by feminists is the lack of interest given to women who are the silent sufferer whilst their male partner is in prison. Criminological studies generally focus on the prisoner and his relationship with the penal system, having little interest for the females concerns. Prisoner studies detail the anguish suffered by the imprisoned men who are separated from their families but we hear nothing of the suffering of the women and their families who are the other side of that relationship”.