ABSTRACT
Indirect forms of violence against women are less obvious than direct forms because the state, due to its monopoly of violence, can be "subtle to the point where it appears to be gender-neutral – or even protective towards women". The state is able to frame itself as protective of women by passing legislation or regulations that seemingly address gender-based violence. State Crime, Women and Gender further develop understandings of state-perpetrated gender-based violence by examining the role of women as perpetrators of state violence. Despite the dearth in criminological attention paid to this issue further attention is needed to deconstruct presentations of female state crime offenders, especially as those that draw broader attention are often portrayed as notorious, evil, and nefarious. Grounded in the work of the feminist movement there continues to be a push for legal reform, and while there have been advancements in many arenas the focus of many still remains on further legal reform.
