Women Offending
Throughout my education at Boston University, I have always been interested in feminist criminology and the treatment of women offenders. Women offend differently and for different reasons than men, but for years, they were treated the same as men offenders, which does not work. Women for years have been discriminated against within society, and the discrimination continues into the criminal justice system by not treating them as unique offenders. Women present unique profiles and pathways within the criminal justice system. Women’s common pathways are “based on survival of abuse and poverty and substance abuse” (Rousseau, 2017, Module 4). Overall, their pathways are more economically based than men’s are.
Women’s profiles are also different. Women are more likely to have a history with abuse, both physical and sexual. They may be sole caretakers of young children or pregnant when entering prison. They have unique physical and mental health needs, as well as tend to ‘act in’ as opposed to ‘acting out. ’Women are also less violent and pose less of a threat to society (Rousseau, 2017, Module 4). Women are more likely to have a mental illness, especially depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Because of their unique profiles, they have unique pathways into crime and should be highly considered in regards to incarceration/treatment.
In terms of incarceration/treatment, there should be a higher focus on treatment. As stated, women offenders are dealing with histories of abuse and mental illness. They have faced hardships that have warped their view of the world and created lasting effects on them. By providing treatment to these women, it can help address many of the issues that are causing them to offend. Women are likely to offend because of economic reasons, in regards to abuse, poverty, and substance abuse. By helping women beat their substance abuse, find better coping mechanisms for their trauma, and helping them to find jobs, it could help to prevent recidivism within women.
This is an issue that I believe is very important. It is important to understand the unique profiles and take into consideration the differences when evaluating proper ways to incarcerate and treat. This should be applied to not only women, but individuals of color and those with mental health issues as well. Historically, the criminal justice system has shown to be racist, sexist, and inconsiderate to those with mental illness. Going forward, it is essential to change pathways and ensure that treatment is equitable, not necessarily equal. In my opinion, there are a lot of reforms that need to occur to provide a more fair, successful criminal justice system.
References
Rousseau, D. (2017). Module 4. Retrieved from
https://onlinecampus.bu.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/displayLearningUnit?course_id=_42658_1&content_id=_5296284_1&framesetWrapped=true