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Women in transnational organized crime

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Abstract

The last two decades have seen a number of publications showing that women play an important role in transnational organized crime. The recent focus on this subject has revealed a growing body of evidence to suggest that women have been active as members and leaders of criminal organizations around the world in various periods of history. This evidence has cast doubt on the prevailing idea of a ‘sudden rise’ of female power and could provide us with new explanations for the rise of women to the top of the criminal world. This article shows that the transnational and fluid opportunities and the attractive image of crime (associated with wealth, power and freedom) seduce women into entering the criminal world. The changing character of organized crime provides women with new criminal markets and clients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Willem Pompe Institute, Utrecht University, Boothstraat 6, 3512 BW, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Dina Siegel

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  1. Dina Siegel
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Correspondence to Dina Siegel.

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Siegel, D. Women in transnational organized crime. Trends Organ Crim 17, 52–65 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-013-9206-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-013-9206-4

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