Studies of criminology over the last few decades has often left little room for research and theory on how female offenders are perceived and handled in the criminal justice system. Co-authored by Meda Chesney-Lind, one of the pioneers in the development of the feminist theoretical perspective in criminology, this 2nd edition redresses the balance by providing critical insight into these issues. In an engaging style, authors Meda Chesney-Lind and Lisa Pasko explore gender and cultural factors in women's lives that often precede criminal behavior and address the question of whether female offenders are more violent today than in the past. The authors provide a revealing look at how public discomfort with the idea of women as criminals significantly impacts the treatment received by this offender population. The result is a book that will be an enlightening and thought-provoking read for academics, researchers and students not just in the areas of criminology and criminal justice but in more general sociology and women's studies as well.