Gender Paradoxes of Violence: disturbing figures, media stories and the framing of the perpetrator-victimized relationship

• In Event: Gendered framings and representations

Abstract

Gender as a construct has been introduced into criminology half a century ago and has contributed to an understanding of the relation between gender and violence. Therefore, when improving resilience of professionals encountering violent behaviour, gender might be an important construct to take into account. We know from the literature that men and women do not experience victimization and perpetration in the same way but at the same time there are some blind spots with regard to male victimization and female perpetration.
The presentation will discuss different examples of gendered violence to highlight some of the blind spots. Femicide is increasingly referenced in media and politics, yet its definition remains contested. While often linked to disturbing homicide statistics, its conceptual ambiguity complicates policy efforts. Honor-related violence, though overlapping, affects both men and women, challenging narrow gender-based assumptions. Similarly, trauma responses in high-risk youth reveal unexpected gender patterns, questioning simplistic victimization narratives. A critical reassessment of gender-sensitive policies is necessary to avoid misinterpretation and ineffective interventions.

Authors

• Martina Althoff, University of Groningen

• Janine Janssen, Avans/OU/Police

• Anne-Marie Slotboom, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam