Feminist perspectives

Several years ago, when I was interviewing social activists who were working to address the problem of sex trafficking worldwide, I posed the question, “Do you consider yourself a feminist?” The common reply from interviewees went something like this: “No, I wouldn’t say I’m a feminist; I think all people should be treated equally and respectfully.” Before answering the question, “What is feminist criminology?,” then, it would be useful to first answer the question, “What is feminism?,” for there appears to be some confusion as to the meaning of this term. And it is undeniably a label that nowadays is loaded with social and political baggage.