This chapter examines the life trajectories of five incarcerated women in Mexico, revisiting their adolescent years to understand how their early experiences paved the way toward criminalized environments. The life stories of Analy, Clarice, Valerie, Flora, and Rosa bring into focus key themes such as control, power, violence, and victimization. By examining how these themes intersect with broader familial, social, economic, and cultural contexts—as well as systemic conditions of exclusion and vulnerability—this analysis seeks to uncover the underlying dynamics of their criminal pathways. Central to this exploration are the following questions: In what ways do control and power influence the development of criminal behavior? How do experiences of early victimization shape women’s adult lives? And how are gendered structures implicated in criminal conduct? This chapter aims to answer these questions through a critical and empathetic engagement with the women’s narratives, offering new insights into female criminality and advocating for a more nuanced, gender-informed criminological perspective.