IntroductionOne of the main reasons for the emergence of feminist criminology during the Women's Movement in the 1970s was the neglect of women in traditional male-dominated criminology (Renzetti 2013, 3-5) . This emergency has led to the development of an awareness of power, strengthening the fundamental theoretical foundations of feminist criminology. The aim of this report is to demonstrate and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of gendered power as a central element of feminist criminological theories and how awareness of power has influenced modern child protection policies both positively and negatively. First, the way feminism interprets male sexual power dynamics has been completely reinterpreted in terms of powerlessness as it relates to women and children (Angelides 2004, 145-147). Furthermore, the role of gender power is significant in both child protection and abuse. It is argued that, in addition to the exploitation of power, child abuse arises from conflict over gender identity and male authority, with male authority expressed directly through violent control over women and children (Evan and Flitcraft, 1988). Feminist understandings of power that arose from the emergence of feminist criminology in the 1970s have had significant influences on modern child protection policy, both positive and negative. These influences have seen a shift from traditional “victim-blaming” tendencies to the recognition of male power dynamics and the use of “victim-oriented” solutions. These positive solutions take into account the relative helplessness of children in abusive situations, which allows for a better approach to the rehabilitation of victims (Carrington 2008, 79). The foundations of gender power dynamics G...... half of the document ..... .or not identified as perpetrators of child abuse (Smart, 1976). Through exploiting male power dynamics as a gendered construct, feminist interpretations of power have highlighted children's powerlessness (Angelides 2004, 150). Through the recognition of dominant male power, feminism initiated the paradigm shift from victim blaming towards a modern understanding of childhood helplessness, and incorporating a modern child protection policy. As a result, feminism has enabled a broad understanding of the role of power in child abuse and has positively influenced modern child protection policy. Child protection is still a predominant issue and will take a long time to resolve. Feminism's influence on relative power dynamics will translate directly into the positive progression and development of modern child protection policy in the future..