Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
In Crime as Structured Action, James W. Messerschmidt presents a groundbreaking theory that interweaves criminology with gender studies, particularly the sociology of masculinity. Rejecting simplistic correlations between gender and crime, Messerschmidt proposes that criminal behavior can serve as a means of accomplishing masculinity—especially when socially legitimate paths to hegemonic masculinity are blocked. His approach is
Women, Crime and Poverty (1988) is one of the most influential works of British criminologist Pat Carlen. Based on empirical research with women in the British criminal justice system, Carlen presents a groundbreaking feminist critique that links female criminality to structural poverty, social exclusion, and gender-specific forms of control. The book is considered a key
This section presents key works in criminology that go beyond classical theories of crime. The selected texts are theoretically rich, interdisciplinary, and have had a lasting impact on criminological debate. They cover central themes such as social control, criminal law, policing, surveillance, social inequality, and deviant identities. Classics & Foundational Texts in Criminology W. E.
Feminist criminology emerged in the 1970s as a critical response to the male-dominated theories and practices of mainstream criminology. It challenged the neglect of women’s experiences both as offenders and as victims, criticizing criminological theories for treating male behavior as the norm and simply assuming that it applies to women. Feminist criminology also exposes the
Power-Control Theory, developed by John Hagan and colleagues in the 1980s, is a sociological theory that explains gender differences in delinquency by linking family power structures to patterns of socialization and control. The theory integrates insights from control theories, Marxist perspectives, and feminist criminology. It argues that the distribution of power within families shapes how