Writing Wayward Women: Why Blog the History of Victorian England’s Female Offenders?

Abstract

This article considers the multiple uses of academic research blogs for crime historians with particular reference to graduate students and early career researchers. Research focussed blogs help to develop the ideas and narrative styles of writers, provide vital opportunities for ‘virtual colleagueship’, and offer researchers valuable opportunities for networking and engagement both inside and outside of universities. Whilst there are some concerns to be raised over protection of authors’ work, and the current lack of recognition for the effort and benefits involved with running a research blog, the opportunities to connect with the rich landscape of digital resources in the history of crime are too good for academics to be able to dismiss the gains to be made by blogging.