Abstract

Gender has been a key issue in criminology and criminal justice for decades. As a result of feminist work and of major shifts in emphasis in public policy, significant challenges have been mounted to theories, research and criminal justice systems (Heidensohn 1996; Heidensohn and Gelsthorpe 2007). Debates continue about how effective and widespread these paradigm changes have been, but the central questions raised and the conceptual framework initially developed by pioneers of gendered perspectives remain relevant and robust (Heidensohn 2000, 2006). Key issues debated in the modern dialogue centre on equitable treatment and recognition of difference and diversity.