Feminist Theory In Criminal Justice

In order to analyze and understand a theory, one must approach it in a scientific manner by utilizing the five-step scientific method to outline the theory and all essential elements. The five-step scientific method is as follows: (1) ask a question, (2) conduct research, (3) form a hypothesis, (4) test the hypothesis using experiments, and (5) draw a conclusion. Like many other theories, the feminist theory, or gender-based theory asks who is committing the crime? Although the title of the theory is all-inclusive, the research conducted for feminist theory mainly focused on previous observations done on the treatment of females within the criminal justice system, the analysis of police reports, and the focus of other theories that excluded
It is important to note that the feminist theory, or gender-based theory, has been researched and revamped many times over several decades. However, such claims based on the latter provide substantive information pertaining to additional research conducted within the stages of theoretical revision. Through decades of learning and acquired knowledge about female criminality and treatment, theorists captured a hypothesis that focuses on two subjects, the female offender and its ties with gender equality. In addition, modern theorists have research through interviews and surveys based on race and gender was conducted according to Lilly, Cullen, and Ball (2015). It is hypothesized that gender alone can influence criminal behavior, and that if the individual is a female then they are controlled by society and the certain positions that the individual might hold within society. This brings forward many possible independent variables that contribute to the feminist theory, for example, political positions and contained education. However, the major variables within the feminist theory are gender, race, ethnicity, and
The theory at hand was not tested using self-report surveys at its conception; rather, this theory’s hypothesis was tested using police reports and examining “female victimization…[and the] treatment of women by [the] criminal justice system” (Reid, 2012, p. 139). According to Lilly, Cullen, and Ball (2015) contemporary feminist perspective theorist relied on many self-report survey and official statistics to test hypotheses and draw conclusions (p. 259). From the observations and other means of data collection throughout several decades, it can be concluded that inequality and mistreatment of females within the criminal justice system and given that cultural situations, gender, race, and social class play a role in the criminalization of the female, that the “dominance of men over women and the impact that has on crimes by and against women” (Reid, 2012, p. 139). Additionally, Reid points out that many feminist scholars defined the feminist theory as a ‘“diverse perspectives that focus on women’s interests, are overtly political, and strive to present a new vision of equality and social justice’” (p. 139). It is important to note that over time three (3) perspectives on early feminism expand the ideas and thoughts of the feminist theory. Marxist feminists, radical feminism, and socialist feminism views have been created and changed over