Book review: Gender, Power and Restorative Justice: A Feminist Critique
| Published date | 01 December 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/02645505231212253 |
| Author | Arwan,Siti Masruroh |
| Date | 01 December 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Book reviews |
Book review
Gender, Power and Restorative Justice: A Feminist Critique
Jodie Hodgson
Palgrave Macmillan; 2022, pp 236; £89.99; pbk
ISBN: 9783030908294
Reviewed by: Arwan, Masters Student in Law at Universitas Gadjah
Mada, Indonesia
Siti Masruroh, Masters Student in Law at Universitas Gadjah Mada,
Indonesia
In the realm of social justice, particularly concerning the experiences of girls
entangled in the criminal justice system, “Gender, Power and Restorative Justice:
A Feminist Critique”stands as a significant contribution to the discourse. This
book, an extension of meticulous doctoral research, delves into the intricate
terrain of girls’encounters with restorative justice (RJ) conferences within the
context of youth justice interventions in England. Written by Jodie Hodgson, this
work significantly expands the feminist lens through which restorative justice is scru-
tinized, illuminating the critical interplay between gender, power dynamics, shame,
stigma, muting, resistance, and ultimately, the potential of restorative justice for girls.
The foundation of this work is firmly rooted in the author’s empirical research,
which sought to unearth the profound meanings embedded in the experiences of
girls participating in RJ conferences. The driving motivation behind this research is
not to lay claim to absolute truths, but to offer a fertile ground where alternative nar-
ratives can flourish, challenging conventional discourse. In accordance with the
scholarly views of Ballinger (2016), the book acknowledges the perpetual potential
for generating new knowledge, while avoiding rigid claims of irrevocable veracity.
Within the labyrinthine array of feminist theories and perspectives, the author
adroitly navigates the tenets that bind them together, forming the theoretical frame-
work through which the analysis unfolds. Drawing from the wellspring of feminist
thought, the work underscores the inherent structuring of social existence by
gender, a concept that gives rise to normative expectations, molding behavior
through constructs of masculinity and femininity. This delineation emphasizes the
patriarchal underpinnings that confer greater value to masculinity, constructing a
hierarchy that conditions the lived experiences of individuals. Moreover, the feminist
Book review The Journal of Communit
y
and Criminal Justice
Probation Journal
2023, Vol. 70(4) 433–435
© The Author(s) 2023
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DOI: 10.1177/02645505231212253
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