Citation

Moen E, Nygren L, Edin K. Vict. Offender 2016; 11(3): 373-391.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15564886.2015.1010696

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Data from Swedish court judgments of all 124 women convicted of homicide during 20 years was analyzed. The typical pattern was an abused woman who kills her intimate partner at home with a knife, often with alcohol involved. A subsample (n = 66) was analyzed qualitatively, with a focus on intimate partner relationships. The findings indicate that female homicides usually take place after a long progression of violence and reflect women's subordinate gendered position. Situational triggers finally lead up to the killing event. Gender equality and the so-called woman-friendly welfare state in Sweden do not appear to reduce women's volatility in violent relationships.

Language: en

Keywords

gender; criminal courts; drugs/alcohol; intimate partner homicide; women as offenders