Sex Role Stereotypes and Justice for Women

Abstract

Sexual stereotyping can be seen as affecting the incarceration of women, their treatment in prisons and jails, and their reception in the community following release. While women's organizations have played a major role in improving conditions facing incarcerated women, they have per petuated the stereotypes. These factors have affected female offenders in the past, and they remain very much a part of correction today. Because of sex role stereotyping, we have denied—and we continue to deny—justice to women. The stereotypes are a fundamental reason why we know so little about the causes of female criminality and about the types of women found in prison.