British Asian Girls, Crime and Youth Justice
| Author | Sunita Toor |
| Date | 01 December 2009 |
| Published date | 01 December 2009 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1473225409345102 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
ARTICLE
© The Author(s), 2009. Reprints and permissions:
http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
Published by SAGE Publications
(Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC)
www.sagepublications.com
ISSN 1473–2254, Vol 9(3): 239–253
DOI: 10.1177/1473225409345102
British Asian Girls, Crime and Youth Justice
Sunita Toor
Correspondence: Dr Sunita Toor, Criminology and Community Justice Subject Group.
Faculty of Development and Society, 37 Clarkehouse Road, Collegiate Crescent Campus,
Sheffi eld Hallam University, Sheffi eld, S10 2LD, UK. Email: s.toor@shu.ac.uk
Abstract
This article provides an understanding of the role of honour (izzat) and shame (sharam) in the
lives of British Asian girls. It indicates key facets embedded in izzat and sharam that deter-
mine and shape the experience of punishment for Asian criminal girls in Britain. In addition,
the article provides an insight into why, as a consequence of izzat and sharam, Asian girls are
especially invisible as offenders in the youth justice system. Finally, an understanding of izzat
and sharam highlights the limitations of using restorative justice practices with Asian young
offenders.
Keywords: Asian girls, crime, izzat, restorative justice, sharam
Introduction
Twenty-fi rst century Britain is home to a diverse range of minority ethnic groups, who con-
stituted 4.6 million people, or 7.9 per cent, of the population in 2001 (ONS, 2001). People of
Asian and Asian British descent comprise 4 per cent of the population (ONS, 2001).1 Within
this multi-cultural milieu, Britain has been regarded as a nation in continual ‘transition’ as
‘hybrid cultural forms’ emerge in an ethos where both host and minority ethnic citizens become
‘cross-cultural navigators’ in a manoeuvre to establish an identity and a sense of belonging in
British society (Parekh, 2000: xv). This is ever more the case for second and third generation
migrant youth. Although this era of multiculturalism and hybridity has enriched British society,
it has been accompanied by numerous problems for both host and minority communities. In
particular, reference to the core focus of this article, this ‘cross-cultural’ navigation is fraught with
complexities for Asian girls in Britain who are caught between two distinct cultures.
The article will begin by establishing a context for why Asian girls, crime and youth justice
are worthy of discussion. This will be followed by a discussion of their invisibility in the youth
justice system as offenders, which, I argue, is best understood in the context of Asian com-
munities’ cultural practices. This analysis will then be developed to provide an insight into how
honour and shame affect Asian girls who do offend and their subsequent experiences of youth
justice punishments versus the cultural consequences of their criminality. Finally, I draw atten-
tion to the potential limitations of restorative justice with Asian girls in Britain.
To continue reading
Request your trial