The Evolving View of Female Violence in West Germany

For a long time, women committing serious crimes were somewhat ignored in statistical studies. Traditional forensics mostly focused on male offenders, assuming men were the primary threat. However, things started to change in West Germany during the 1960s. More female scientists began analyzing female criminality, driven by the women's movement and critical criminology. This shift brought a fresh perspective to the table. The article delves into how the topic of women's violent crime was discussed in the old Federal Republic of Germany. It explores how ideas about female criminality evolved, particularly in debates about the "mentally ill and dangerous. " It also looks at whether female scientists' analyses differed from their male counterparts and the role of critical and feminist movements. With societal changes like women's emancipation and reforms in psychiatry and criminal law, the interpretation of female violence became a hot topic. The article asks if traditional views of gender and mental illness remained the same or evolved. It questions how these views influenced the understanding of "normal" and "crazy" in forensic discussions.