Changes in the gendered nature of homicides: Comparing 20th- and 21st-century Finland

Abstract

Women commit fewer homicides than men, yet recent research has suggested that the nature of female-perpetrated homicides has started to resemble that of male perpetration. This study examines gender differences and changes in the nature of female and male homicides, and aims to demonstrate how developments in Finnish society, such as the formation of the welfare state, are reflected in the gendered nature of homicide offending. Data consist of samples from the early 20th and 21st centuries. Comparisons in frequencies are made concerning the profiles of the victim and the offender, as well as the context of the crime. Results indicate that female offending is more similar to male offending in the 21st century than it was in the early 20th century.

Intimate Partner Homicide in Portugal: What Are the (As)Symmetries Between Men and Women?

“…Regarding the IPH offender, sex issues have been disregarded, and theoretical explanations are often based on the men homicide perpetration and rarely on the perpetration of both sexes (Eriksson and Mazerolle 2013;Sebire 2013). Nevertheless, some authors have focused their research on the sex asymmetry among IPH offenders, as well as on the nature of the offence and its evolution over time (Virtanen and Savinen 2017). Some studies have begun to focus on this subject, but the results do not always agree.…”

“…Some differences have also been observed. Several investigations have shown that women tend to kill their intimate men partners in selfdefence in response to IPV, while men tend to kill their women intimate partners as a result of jealousy (Aldridge and Browne 2003;Edelstein 2016;Goussinsky and Yassour-Borochowitz 2012;Pais 2010;Virtanen and Savinen 2017). Some authors point out that offenders from both sexes share common points regarding socio-demographic characteristics, the age of the offender, marital status, ethnic origin, criminal history and socioeconomic issues, but they mainly differ regarding the characteristics of the relationship and the situational context, motivation, place of crime, cause of death and post-IPH suicide (Campbell et al 2003;Eriksson and Mazerolle 2013;Sebire 2013;Virtanen and Savinen 2017).…”