Consider the following questions to check your understanding.

1. How useful are historical perspectives to the study of gender, crime and victimization?
2. To what extent are contemporary concerns about women offenders grounded in the past?
3. Outline the key themes that have underpinned the construction of women offenders over time – give examples.
4. Critically discuss the problem of using historical data sources.
5. In what ways were women’s bodies defined as ‘risky’ and in need of regulation?
6. In what ways is Elias’s work on the ‘civilizing process’ useful in making sense of the changing characterization of men and criminality?