ABSTRACT
In this introductory chapter, we provide a critical assessment of what is meant by the term ‘sex offender,’ acknowledging that meanings are socially constructed, situated, and contingent. After presenting our position, that ‘sex offenders’ are ‘offenders’ because the actions in which they are charged or convicted offend the sexual mores in society, we outline the theoretical underpinnings of the book and provide an overview of the chapters to follow.
