Desistance, Resistance, and Normalcy

""This book is an eminent example of how the desistance field is maturing and its traditional borders are being pushed in new critical directions. Fredriksson and Gålnander offer an in-depth and rich analysis of female desistance that sheds new light on areas such as constructions of femininity, views of ‘normalcy’, and the passage of time. The book makes for an invigorating and inspiring read and is strongly recommended to academics and students alike!"" Dr. Linnéa Österman, Gothenburg University ""Through a painstaking and sometimes painful analysis of the lives of ten women, this fascinating book reveals the myriad ways in which patriarchy complicates and disrupts their pursuit of desistance from crime, denying them the material, psychological and social resources they need to rebuild their lives. It is a major step forward in gendering desistance research and theory."" Professor Fergus McNeill, University of Glasgow ""Fredriksson and Gålnander’s incredibly rich dataset, painstakingly gathered through repeated interviews, paints a vivid picture of criminalised women’s struggles to achieve normalcy. Expertly documenting the challenges, pains, and injuries convicted women frequently encounter as they attempt to leave crime behind, the authors ask searching questions about the desirability of the ‘normalcy project’ itself."" Dr. Gilly Sharpe, University of Sheffield