Gender, Tactical Concerns, and the Use of Weapons and Allies in Homicide and Assault

• In Event: Weapons

Abstract

We use National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data from 2005-2014 to examine the implications of gender for tactical concerns in assaults and homicides. We hypothesize that gender differences in coercive power should lead offenders to prefer to assault and kill women, and to be more likely to use weapons and male allies when they assault and kill men. Our results suggest that, with the exception of partner violence, women are more likely to attack women and men are more likely to attack men. The latter is inconsistent with tactical concerns. When men and women do attack men, they are more likely to use weapons and to rely on male allies. Offenders use these tactics to counter adversaries who have greater coercive power and are therefore a greater threat.

Authors

• Richard Felson, Pennsylvania State University

• Keith Lee Hullenaar, Pennsylvania State University