Did Her Past Mold a Killer?

• In Event: Exploratory Studies in Gender, Crime, and Criminal Justice

Abstract

In the 21st century, the popular culture of the United States continues its fascination with serial killers; however, female serial killers are often overlooked. Females make up a small percentage of the serial killer population and consequently, they have not been the focus of many studies. When the female serial killer is in the media’s spotlight, often the focal point is not her past, or the trauma that she may have experienced as a child, but of a woman who violated her expected gender role in society. Many studies of female serial killers focus on the gender differences between them and their male counterparts. By using secondary sources, this study will examine the unique life circumstances that may cause women to kill.

Author

• Jacqueline R. Gonzales, Sonoma State University