This paper is concerned to examine some of the domain assumptions of victimology. In examining these assumptions close attention will be paid to the influence of positivistic thinking on the development of victimology; in particular the notion of objectivity. Some consideration will be given to the recent attempts which have been made to develop the theoretical and empirical work of the discipline and the argument will be developed that only through a re-examination of the domain assumptions of the discipline will such developments succeed. The notion of victimological progress, it will be contended will only be achievable by taking seriously the challenge posed by feminism on the questions of the nature of science and the construction of knowledge.
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