Intersectionality and Criminology : Gender, Race, Class and Crime

The use of intersectionality theory in the social sciences has proliferated in the previous several years, putting forward the argument that the interconnected identities of individuals, and the way these identities are perceived and responded to by others, must be a necessary part of any analysis. Fundamentally, intersectionality purports that people's lived experiences are not only affected by their gender identity; other identities are just as important such as race and class. With "official" statistical data that indicate people of colour are more likely to be offenders and victims of crime, and with the overrepresentation of men and people of colour in the criminal justice system, new theories are required that address these phenomena and are devoid of stereotypical or debasing underpinnings. In this book, Hillary Potter provides a comprehensive review of the need for and use of intersectionality theory in the study of crime, criminality, and the criminal justice system.