KRM 320 A Chapter 7
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 7: THE TRADITIONAL
CRIMINOLOGISTS
Learning outcomes:
List the names of the traditional criminologists who formulated theories about female
crime, match the books they published in this field to their names and abstract the
central themes in their work.
Give a critical discussion of Lombroso and Ferrero’s “La Donna Delinquente”.
Demonstrate how the insights of W. I. Thomas changed regarding female crime.
Critically evaluate the contribution of Otto Pollak to our knowledge regarding female
crime.
Critically assess the contributions of the traditional criminologists to our understanding
of women offending (Essay number 8 – see checklist at the end of the theme).
The vast majority of traditional criminologists ignored the topic of gender
when they formulated theories.
o There are exceptions (Lombroso and Ferrero; Thomas and Pollak).
Feminist scholars are all in agreement about the following two matters in
relation to traditional Criminology’s contribution to academic scholarship on
women offender:
1. Women offenders have been invisible in traditional criminology, or with
only marginal appearances, if they were included.
- Thrasher published research in gangs and describes the roles of
women in gangs, but it is evident that he had no direct contact or
information by women, he rather obtained it from male gang members.
2. What theories have been developed for women specifically are based on
research that is limited and restricted.
- Women in general have been misrepresented in research, which led to
the creation of stereotypes.
3 traditional criminologists:
o Lombroso and Ferroro published “La Donna Delinquente” in 1895.
o W I Thomas published “Sex and Society” in 1907 and “Unadjusted girl” in
1923 (He changed his mind between the 2 books)
o Otto Pollak published “The criminality of Women” in 1950.
1
, KRM 320 A Chapter 7
Erin Polyblank
4 central themes of these books:
1. Women are defined in terms of their domestic and sexual roles.
2. Women are controlled by their biological, sexual and physiological
characteristics.
3. Women are emotional, defiant, unreliable, childish and irrational.
4. Despite all their shortcomings women are still uniquely equipped for
motherhood.
The traditional authors said much about the nature of women in general but
very little about women offenders specifically.
LOMBROSO AND FERRERO
Cesare Lombroso Background:
o Founded the Positivist school of criminology, which in contrast to the
classical school of criminology (assumed that criminal acts are the
product of free choice and rational calculation), saw the root causes of
crime in factors that were outside the control of the offender.
o Seen as the father of scientific criminology.
o He believed that criminality was inherited, and that “born criminals” could
be identified by means of physical defects/signs of degeneration/stigmata
reminiscent of apes and early man.
Eg. Sloping forehead, large ears and excessive length of arms.
o He supported social Darwinism (Ideas about evolution).
Criminals were “savages”.
o Ferrero was his sin-in-law.
Findings of Lombroso and Ferroro:
o There are fewer female “born criminals” than males.
o Women excelled at prostitution.
Prostitutes exhibited more signs of degeneration than other female
criminals.
They are more masculine and muscular than other women offenders.
o Female criminals appeared almost “physically normal” when compared to
male criminals.
o Prostitution was the most common type of female crime.
2
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 7: THE TRADITIONAL
CRIMINOLOGISTS
Learning outcomes:
List the names of the traditional criminologists who formulated theories about female
crime, match the books they published in this field to their names and abstract the
central themes in their work.
Give a critical discussion of Lombroso and Ferrero’s “La Donna Delinquente”.
Demonstrate how the insights of W. I. Thomas changed regarding female crime.
Critically evaluate the contribution of Otto Pollak to our knowledge regarding female
crime.
Critically assess the contributions of the traditional criminologists to our understanding
of women offending (Essay number 8 – see checklist at the end of the theme).
The vast majority of traditional criminologists ignored the topic of gender
when they formulated theories.
o There are exceptions (Lombroso and Ferrero; Thomas and Pollak).
Feminist scholars are all in agreement about the following two matters in
relation to traditional Criminology’s contribution to academic scholarship on
women offender:
1. Women offenders have been invisible in traditional criminology, or with
only marginal appearances, if they were included.
- Thrasher published research in gangs and describes the roles of
women in gangs, but it is evident that he had no direct contact or
information by women, he rather obtained it from male gang members.
2. What theories have been developed for women specifically are based on
research that is limited and restricted.
- Women in general have been misrepresented in research, which led to
the creation of stereotypes.
3 traditional criminologists:
o Lombroso and Ferroro published “La Donna Delinquente” in 1895.
o W I Thomas published “Sex and Society” in 1907 and “Unadjusted girl” in
1923 (He changed his mind between the 2 books)
o Otto Pollak published “The criminality of Women” in 1950.
1
, KRM 320 A Chapter 7
Erin Polyblank
4 central themes of these books:
1. Women are defined in terms of their domestic and sexual roles.
2. Women are controlled by their biological, sexual and physiological
characteristics.
3. Women are emotional, defiant, unreliable, childish and irrational.
4. Despite all their shortcomings women are still uniquely equipped for
motherhood.
The traditional authors said much about the nature of women in general but
very little about women offenders specifically.
LOMBROSO AND FERRERO
Cesare Lombroso Background:
o Founded the Positivist school of criminology, which in contrast to the
classical school of criminology (assumed that criminal acts are the
product of free choice and rational calculation), saw the root causes of
crime in factors that were outside the control of the offender.
o Seen as the father of scientific criminology.
o He believed that criminality was inherited, and that “born criminals” could
be identified by means of physical defects/signs of degeneration/stigmata
reminiscent of apes and early man.
Eg. Sloping forehead, large ears and excessive length of arms.
o He supported social Darwinism (Ideas about evolution).
Criminals were “savages”.
o Ferrero was his sin-in-law.
Findings of Lombroso and Ferroro:
o There are fewer female “born criminals” than males.
o Women excelled at prostitution.
Prostitutes exhibited more signs of degeneration than other female
criminals.
They are more masculine and muscular than other women offenders.
o Female criminals appeared almost “physically normal” when compared to
male criminals.
o Prostitution was the most common type of female crime.
2
