Lesbian Herstory Archives AudioVisual Collections

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    Side A: In this interview, Dr. Freda Adler discusses the rise in female criminal behavior as a consequence of broader social changes, particularly women’s increased participation in public and professional life. She explains that as women gain access to new roles, they also gain opportunities to engage in crimes once dominated by men. Traditional “feminine” crimes (such as prostitution and shoplifting) are being replaced by more assertive and violent acts like armed robbery and even assassination. Adler emphasizes that this shift doesn’t stem from new motivations but from changing circumstances, and she challenges the myth of inherent female passivity by documenting the evolving cultural landscape.

    Side B: This side explores how institutions—from law enforcement to the courts and prisons—have struggled to keep pace with changes in female behavior. Adler critiques the justice system’s gendered assumptions, showing how women have often received either harsher or overly lenient treatment based on outdated ideas. She also highlights discrimination in prison rehabilitation, the invisibility of women’s prison uprisings, and the psychological toll of role confusion (psychological and social uncertainty that many women face as gender roles shift rapidly) and cultural pressure. The tape closes with a call to treat women’s liberation and female criminality as separate issues, arguing for systemic reform rather than a return to traditional gender roles.
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