Feminist reflections on disability hate crime

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss disability hate crimes in the context of feminist theories of intersectionality.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method approach is adopted, combing feminist auto-ethnography with case reviews of a number of disability hate crimes.

Findings

Disability hate crimes must be understood in the wider context of social inequality and the intersection of identities which make some people more vulnerable to criminal victimization than others.

Social implications

Feminists can apply many of the lessons from third wave feminist debates about intersectionality to the topic of disability hate crimes, so that the multiplicity of inequalities which influence victimization are appropriately recognized. Policy changes are necessary to respond more appropriately to the intersectional forms of power underlying disability hate crimes.

Originality/value

There has not been a feminist exploration of disability hate crimes ever written before, so the chapter breaks new ground in exploring these issues.

Citation

Sherry, M. (2013), "Feminist reflections on disability hate crime", Gendered Perspectives on Conflict and Violence: Part A (Advances in Gender Research, Vol. 18A), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 53-66. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-2126(2013)000018A006