Résumés
Abstract
Women offenders had traditionally been neglected in criminological theory as well as in empirical analyses. Feminist studies have shown that such an exclusion was not only inacceptable on a political ground but that it also shed serious doubts about the validity of criminological models. Arguing on the necessity of focussed empirical analyses for a better understanding of the dynamics of sexual identity on the nature of penal interventions, the authors have proceeded to a comparative analysis of the characteristics and penal treatment of a particular group of offenders, those that have been incarcerated in Quebec's provincial jails ten times or more during a ten year period. Results stress the complexity of the différenciation process for women and men, at least for this particular group. Women having been through repeated incarcerations are far less numerous than men. But the motives for which these women were imprisoned appear to be even more trivial than those having prompted the men's incarcerations.