Revisiting the ‘Ideal Victim’

Developments in Critical Victimology

In her new book, ‘Revisiting the ‘Ideal Victim’, Marian Duggan pulls together a collection of vibrant and provocative essays that challenge the notion of an ideal crime victim.

In his influential 1986 paper, criminologist Nils Christie laid out the notion of the type of victim most likely to draw widespread public sympathy. This collection of essays expands the focus and remit of victim studies, addressing key themes around race, gender, faith, ability, and age, while encompassing new and diverse issues. Examples include sex workers as victims of hate crimes, victims’ experiences of online fraud, and recognizing historic child sexual abuse victims in Ireland.

With contributions from an array of academics, Marian Duggan encourages readers to think differently about victimhood in the twenty-first century.

Leave a Reply