The book Marginalised Voices in Criminology, edited by Michelle Addison and Kelly J. Stockdale, offers a collection of essays that challenge the dominant narratives in criminology by amplifying marginalized voices. Through contributions from scholars, activists, and practitioners, the book addresses how traditional criminology has often excluded or ignored groups such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and racially discriminated communities. The editors invite readers to critically assess the power dynamics, colonial influences, and epistemological structures that shape the field, advocating for more inclusive perspectives.
The book is organized into three parts: Criminology Theories and Marginalization, Marginal Voices in Criminology, and Maintaining Marginalization. Each section explores different aspects of exclusion within criminological theories, practices, and education, providing insights into the lived experiences of marginalized communities. Below is a chapter-by-chapter summary of the book.
Part 1: Criminology Theories and Marginalization
The first section discusses how criminological theories often overlook marginalized groups. It focuses on disability, Indigenous voices, and decolonial perspectives.
Chapter 1 Introduction by Addison and Stockdale introduces the book's core aim to disrupt the dominant discourse in criminology by exploring marginalized perspectives. They emphasize the structural inequalities in the field, particularly around power, colonialism, and knowledge production. Chapter 2 Dis/ableist Criminology by Stephen J. Macdonald and Donna Peacock argues that criminology has historically treated disability from a biological positivist lens, often marginalizing disabled individuals by framing them as vulnerable to crime. They propose a new approach, "dis/ableist criminology," that integrates disability theory to provide a more nuanced understanding of the intersection between disability and criminology. Chapter 3 Engaging Indigenous Australian Voices by Stephen D. Ashe and Debbie Bargallie highlights the need for epistemic justice by elevating Indigenous Australian perspectives within criminology. They critique the academic marginalization of Indigenous knowledge and stress the importance of adhering to ethical research practices that respect Indigenous communities.
Part 2: Marginal Voices in Criminology
The second section highlights the real-life experiences of various marginalized groups and how these experiences are often ignored in criminological discourse. Chapter 4 Racialised Young Women by Esmorie Miller examines the stigmatization of young women from Anglo-Negroid families in interwar Britain. She explores how these women were racialized and treated as social threats, providing historical context to the intersection of race and gender discrimination. Chapter 5 Intersection of Age, Gender, and Rurality by Bianca Johnston, Faith Gordon, and Catherine Flynn focuses on young women in rural Australia, especially Indigenous and women of color, who experience family violence in ways that are often overlooked by mainstream domestic violence discourse and policy. Chapter 6 Irish Traveller Men by Megan Coghlan explores the structural and cultural barriers faced by Irish Traveller men, especially regarding their experiences with reoffending. The chapter highlights the importance of understanding the intersection of ethnicity, culture, and masculinity in criminological studies. Chapter 7 Russian Criminology by Yulia Chistyakova investigates how Russian criminology has been marginalized from global discourse due to historical and geopolitical reasons, particularly during the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. This chapter discusses how Russian criminologists have had to adapt to both colonial and post-colonial frameworks.
Part 3: Maintaining Marginalization
The final section examines how marginalization continues to be perpetuated in criminological research, education, and practice.
Chapter 8 The Power of Listening by Natalie Rutter emphasizes the ethical responsibility of researchers to listen to marginalized voices, particularly women in desistance research. She critiques academic practices that unconsciously marginalize these voices and calls for more participatory research methods. Chapter 9 Female Researcher Identities in Male Spaces by Claudia Smith Cox, Kerry Ellis Devitt, and Lisa Sugiura explores the gender dynamics experienced by female researchers working in male-dominated environments such as policing and prisons. The authors discuss the challenges and vulnerabilities female researchers face and suggest ways to improve support systems.
Chapter 10 Who is “The Public” When We Talk About Crime? by Matczak questions how “the public” is represented in criminological research, especially in the digital era. It calls for more inclusive approaches to understanding public perceptions of crime, acknowledging the diverse voices within communities. Chapter 11 Marginalized Perspectives in Student Research by Alexis Marcoux Rouleau, Ismehen Melouka, and Maude Pérusse-Roy critiques the lack of focus on marginalized populations in criminological student research. The authors advocate for a more inclusive academic curriculum that better represents race, gender, and class issues. Chapter 12 Bringing Prison Abolition from the Margins to the Centre by Latoya Aroha Rule and Michele Jarldorn challenges the carceral logic of the prison system, proposing the use of narrative methods as a decolonial tool. They share their personal and professional experiences as members of marginalized communities and stress the power of storytelling for social change.
The concluding Chapter 13 Final Reflections by Addison and Stockdale revisits the book's central themes, calling for concrete actions to create a more inclusive and equitable criminological discipline. They encourage readers to reflect on their own roles in either perpetuating or resisting structural inequalities.
Marginalised Voices in Criminology offers a critical re-examination of the field by centering marginalized perspectives often ignored in mainstream criminological discourse. Through diverse contributions from around the world, the book challenges readers to rethink how criminology is studied, taught, and practiced, encouraging academics and practitioners to take concrete steps toward building a more just and inclusive future.
The reviewers would like to express their gratitude to LPDP for supporting this review.
