Lethal Inequalities: Understanding the Structural Predictors, Gendered Patterns, and Life Lost to Violence

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

This panel will examine homicide as a reflection of structural inequalities, shifting gender relations, and global harms. Using large-scale national and international datasets—including the Homicide Index for England and Wales, U.S. crime statistics, and global mortality estimates—the papers offer a multi-scalar view of lethal violence across time and place. Common themes include the gendered dynamics of homicide, particularly the under-recognised nature of non-intimate femicide, and the long-term impact of economic, cultural, and policy shifts on homicide trends. Attention is given to the limitations of prevailing typologies and forecasting models, especially in periods of social instability. Together, the papers demonstrate how homicide patterns are shaped not only by individual actions but also by structural stressors such as austerity, inequality, and fragmented criminal justice responses. A further shared concern is the quantification of harm: from identifying long-term homicide trends to estimating the years of life lost to violence, particularly among younger people. Across diverse regional contexts—the panel highlights the need for more inclusive data, context-sensitive analysis, and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and preventing homicide.

Sub Unit

• Area III. Types of Offending / 12. Violent Crime

Individual Presentations

• Non-Intimate Femicide in England and Wales: The Knowns and the Unknowns - Caroline Miles, University of Manchester; Elizabeth Cook, City University of London

• Gendered Violence in a Stressed Society: Homicide Trends in England & Wales, 1977–2020 - Emily Gray, University of Warwick; Stephen Farrall, University of Nottingham; Andromachi Tseloni, Nottingham Trent University, UK

• The Possibilities and Constraints of Crime Rate Forecasts - David McDowall, University at Albany

• How Much Lifetime is Lost Due to Homicides: A Cross-National Comparison - Mateus Renno Santos, University of South Florida; Yunmei Lu, State University of New York at Buffalo; Alex Testa, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston