Multiple identities and crime: A study of Antillean women and girls in the Netherlands
| DOI | 10.1177/1477370812468808 |
| Date | 01 July 2013 |
| Published date | 01 July 2013 |
| Author | Martina Althoff |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
European Journal of Criminology
10(4) 394 –407
© The Author(s) 2013
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DOI: 10.1177/1477370812468808
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Multiple identities and crime:
A study of Antillean women
and girls in the Netherlands
Martina Althoff
University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Abstract
The concept of intersectionality refers to the constructionist approach, which considers gender,
class and race as categories of social inequality that cannot be added together but that intersect
and construct each other. Social categories construct the social identities that affect what
motivates people and how they operate. The question is how multiple identities come together
in the context of crime? The paper reports the findings of a qualitative study that explored the
concept of intersectionality when analysing crime. The study analysed the court files of Antillean
women and girls living in the Netherlands and tried to find an explanation for their crime patterns
in their struggle with their identity.
Keywords
Gender theory, intersectionality, violent females
Introduction
One of the most significant effects of globalization on contemporary societies is that citi-
zens now have multiple identities. If we have multiple identities, it means that we are and
consider ourselves members of different social groups. The same person can be, without
any contradiction, a Dutch citizen, of Caribbean origin, of African ancestry, a Christian,
a liberal, a female, a heterosexual, a mother, a drugs dealer and a granny.
Each of these collectivities, to all of which this person simultaneously belongs, gives her a
particular identity. None of them can be taken to be the person’s only identity or singular
membership category. Given our inescapably plural identities, we have to decide on the relative
importance of our different associations and affiliations in any particular context. (Sen, 2006: xii)
Corresponding author:
Martina Althoff, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, University of Groningen, PO Box 716,
Groningen, 9700 AS, The Netherlands.
Email: m.althoff@rug.nl
468808EUC10410.1177/1477370812468808European Journal of CriminologyAlthoff
2013
Article
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