87591 - CRIMINALITA', GENERE E VIOLENZA

Learning outcomes

In this class students will acquire knowledges and will become familiar with the issues of the gender gap in female/male participation to crime and in the different forms of male and female victimization. They will understand and critically discuss both theoretical approaches to the gender gap and will learn to answer some of the most important questions of contemporary criminology, related to the difference in male and female involvement in crime (as authors and as victims) and to gender violence.

Course contents

In this course we will discuss and analyze patterns of female offending and of female victimization. The first module of the class will focus on female offending and in particular on these issues:

What is the gender gap in crime and how can we explain it

Criminological theories and female offending

Feminist criminology and gendered approaches to crime

Patterns and evolution of female offending

Violent female offending

Contemporary patterns of female offending: women in gangs and women in organized crime

The secondo module of the class will focus on female victimization and particularly on violence against women based on gender reasons. The following topics will be analyzed:

Patterns of female victimization

The debate on gender violence: psychological, sociological and feministe perspectives in understanding gender violence

The concept of "femicide"

Trends in female victimization across time and space (homicide, sexual violence and stalking)

Empirical studies on female victimization

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1:

K. Heimer & C. Kruttschnitt (eds)(2006)  Gender and Crime. Patterns in Victimization and Offending, New York, New York University Press. Selected chapters (about 120 pages)

F. Heidenson, (2002) Gender and Crime, in M. Maguire, R. Morgan, R. Reiner (eds) "The Oxford Handbook of Criminology", Oxford, Oxford University Press, 3d edition. pp. 491-530.

R.Selmini (2019, forthcoming) Women in Organized Crime. "Crime&Justice. A Review of Research", vol. 49.

For students who do not read in English, an alternative bibliography in Italian will be provided

Module 2:

G. Creazzo (ed) (2013)Se le donne chiedono giustizia. Le risposte del sistema penale alle donne che subiscono violenza nelle relazioni di intimità: ricerca e prospettive internazionali".Il Mulino, Bologna.

F. Rescigno (ed) (2016) "Percorsi di uguaglianza", Giappichelli. (Selected chapters)

A choice among these and other readings and materials provided in class will be available.

Teaching methods

Lezioni frontali; discussione in piccoli gruppi; materiali audiovisivi; esercitazioni individuali e di gruppo

Assessment methods

Written test at the end of Module 1 and Module 2. Each test worths 25% of the final grade. Final oral examination.

Teaching tools

Power point; movies, videos and documentaries

Office hours

See the website of Rossella Selmini

See the website of Stefania Crocitti