Girls in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

This paper aims to provide elements to construct an understanding  of female minors in the criminal  justice system with regard to the specif ic discriminations  the minors are subjected to and which take into account the particular elements which affect the youngest  offenders.  The  f irst  part  of  the  article  shows  how  history  has  made  girls  and  their experiences  invisible. A historical analysis proves how control has been a key element in the construct and perception of female identity, particularly  through the processes of girl socialisation,  charged  with  stereotypes  and expectations  of what  a good woman  should be. The second part shows how gender identity permeates the youth justice system, which reproduces and amplif ies the discrimination by gender or other discriminations suffered by girls in other situations. Lastly, the main contributions of feminist criminology are presented, with the purpose of understanding  the experience  of female minors in the youth justice.