Gendered Patterns of Crime in India: A Feminist Criminology Perspective

This study considers the fundamental propositions of the feminist perspective in criminology, which not only reshape the crime causation, victimization, and criminal justice issues, but also acknowledges the existence of the gender-based dimension in considerations for the criminal justice system. The cornerstone of feminist philosophy is the acknowledgment of patriarchal basis where power structures are set in such a way as to favor men over women and thus create gender inequalities. Existing criminological theories often fail to address gender in the treatment of offenders and victims, excluding the complexity experienced by women and LGBTQ+ individuals in oppression and marginalization. The theory of feminist criminology has been developed focusing on how gender and the aspect of intersectionality influences the crime and justice system. Moreover, feminist criminologists are interested in the fact that victimization is gendered, therefore focusing on the groups most vulnerable to violence such as women, children and LGBTQ+ community members. Conventional crime theories often overlook or disregard victim’s experiences, which end in keeping the narratives of victim-blaming and also in providing insufficient support and resources for those survivors. Rather than reacting to these observations with retributive justice, feminists are increasingly insisting on restorative justice approaches that consider healing, empowerment, and communal accountability as essential. Among the restorative justice practices and survivor-centered interventions is grassroots organization that emerge as viable alternatives to traditional punitive responses, thereby a more inclusive, empathic and socially change oriented society is formed.