Gender Inequality and Rates of Female Homicide Victimization Across U.S. Cities

Abstract

This study adds to a growing body of literature that explores patterns and correlates of homicide among specific populations within the United States. Seeking to improve our understanding of correlates of female homicide, the authors explore the possibility that female victimization rates are influenced by conditions of sex-based inequality. Using data from 177 central cities of the United States, they develop a model that tests separately, and in combination, the effects of seven sociodemographic variables and six measures of differences in male and female socioeconomic status. The authors find that the social-structural model is neither altered nor improved by inclusion of the inequality variables. Further, no single inequality variable is found to be a statistically significant predictor of female homicide rates when controlling for social-structural effects. Based on these results, they find little support for a gender inequality/female homicide connection.

Gender equity, traditional masculine culture, and female homicide victimization

“…This backlash hypothesis stressed an unintended consequence of female empowerment: increased gender equality represented a threat to male dominance and might result in higher rates of female victimization as males react defensively (Messerschmidt, 1993). This approach (Russell, 1975;Williams & Holmes, 1981) was similar to Blalock's threat hypothesis (1967) and also received some empirical support, with Bailey (1999), Brewer and Smith (1995), Vieraitis and Williams (2002), and Whaley (2001) showing a positive relationship between selected measures of gender equality and rape or female homicide victimization.…”

The impact of race on the adjudication of sexual assault and other violent crimes

“…Research also showed that macrosocial variables (e.g., levels of poverty and unemployment, racial income gaps, divorce rates, occupational inequalities, etc.) could impact rates of sexual assault and homicide (see Baron & Straus, 1989;Brewer & Smith, 1995;Peterson & Bailey, 1988, 1992Smith & Bennett, 1985), as well as general sentencing and imprisonment practices (Michalowski & Pearson, 1990;Myers & Talarico, 1986). Future research should attempt to specify race effects within hierarchical models that can account for organizational and contextual variations across different jurisdictions.…”

Female Status and Infant and Child Homicide Victimization in Rural and Urban Counties in the U.S.

“…Homicide [8] studies employing gender stratification as the explanatory framework are typically concerned with the victimization of women. Yet gender inequality theories are useful in uncovering the structural dynamics that underlie child homicide victimization as well.…”