Women, Region, and Types of Homicide: Are There Regional Differences in the Structural Status of Women and Homicide Offending?

• NCJ Number: 202863
• Journal: Homicide Studies Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2003 Pages: 368-393
• Author(s): Mari A. DeWees; Karen F. Parker
• Date Published: November 2003
• Length: 26 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses the regional differences in the relationship between women’s economic and social status and homicide offending.

Abstract

It is proposed that the structural status of women differs significantly in the South relative to non-southern regions of the United States and that these disparities, in turn, translate into regional variations in female homicides across secondary groups (acquaintances) and primary groups (family, intimates). Previous research on female homicide victimization and offending has produced inconsistent findings regarding the impact of region. The hypotheses in this study state that (1) economic and social status of females will differ by southern and non-southern region; (2) the incidents of female homicide offending will be higher in the South; (3) the impact of women’s structural status on female homicide offending will differ across relationship types; and (4) the impact of structural status on types of female homicide will be stronger in the South. The units of analysis were 162 United States cities with a 100,000 or more population in 1990. Data for the dependent variables were derived from the Supplementary Homicide Reports (SHRs). The results show evidence of regional differences in the status of women and female-perpetrated homicide through a number of interesting findings. There was mixed support regarding regional differences in the status of females in that although their economic and social status did vary by region, it did so inconsistently across these measures. The results reveal a higher number of incidents of female offending overall and across relationship categories in the South. The indicators of women’s status clearly explain female offending in the non-southern regions better than those female homicides taking place in the South. Region is the strongest predictor of female homicide offending across the models, with the exception of that involving intimates. Women’s improved status does appear to reduce most types of female offending in non-southern regions, yet the dynamics of women’s violence in the South remain largely unexplained by economic-status indicators. 3 tables, 5 notes, 80 references