Intersectional Approach To Crime Essay

In the criminal justice system systems of inequality often go un-recognized, especially in terms of violent crime. What is known from current research is that men are more likely than women to commit violent crimes (UCR, 2017). However, there is limited information on the differences between individuals’ identities and the various elements of their criminal activity. When examining how different violent acts are committed, it’s important to use an intersectional approach, as it can capture systems of inequality and other differing factors. Furthermore, this thesis seeks to use an intersectional approach to examine how different factors of inequality shape an individual’s involvement in violent crime. It will examine different elements, such as location of crime, weapon used, relationship to offender, in relations to individual identify such as race, gender, and class.

A small amount of studies that have examined violent offenders using an intersectional approach find that offenders often differ in their acts based on gender, race, and class (Bernard, 2013; Potter, 2013; Baskin & Sommers, 1993; Miller, 1998). For instance, Jody Miller captured how women are more likely to commit violent acts in a group, while men are more likely to commit violent acts alone (1998). Supporting the notion that an intersectionality approach should be used, as it can account for differences in the act of a violent crime based on individual identity. Similarly, Lynch argues that class must be used in an intersectional framework, as without it we are ignoring all systems of inequality (2015). The difference could be due to various elements, however, it is something to further explore as they can relate back to systems of