Women's Status and Risk of Homicide Victimization: An Analysis With Data Disaggregated by Victim-Offender Relationship

• NCJ Number: 222773
• Journal: Homicide Studies Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2008 Pages: 163-176
• Author(s): Lynne M. Vieraitis; Tomislav V. Kovandzic; Sarah Britto
• Date Published: May 2008
• Length: 14 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: University of Alabama - Birmingham
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using cross-sectional data for all U.S. cities with a 2000 census population of 100,000 of more (n=206), this study examined female homicide rates and various measures of women's socioeconomic status and gender inequality according to the following victim-offender relationships: intimate partner (girlfriends, wives, common-law wives, and ex-wives); family (nonpartner); friend/acquaintance; stranger; and unknown.

Abstract

The findings show that women's "absolute" socioeconomic status (not measured in relationship to that of the offender) was significant only in homicides in which the victim-offender relationship was that of an intimate partner. Gender inequality (socioeconomic status of women victims relative to male offenders), however, was not significant in any category of victim-offender relationship. These findings support Marxist feminist theory, which hypothesizes that women in the lower class often interact with men who are frustrated by their own economic conditions, and this frustration leads to violence against women, including homicide. In addition, women's poverty often leads to dependence on men, even if the men are abusive. Findings are also consistent with the reasoning of socialist feminists, who combine Marxist feminist's attention to the economy with radical feminist's emphasis on patriarchy, suggesting that both absolute and relative measures of deprivation will be important predictors of violence against women. Tests for equality of regression coefficients between the intimate and nonintimate partner models suggest, however, that these differences may be attributed to random chance. Apparently, gender-specific socioeconomic factors contribute little to understanding women's violent victimization. Future studies of violence against women should focus on offender motivation from a feminist perspective or the impact of overall socioeconomic factors. Data on the number of women killed in each city were obtained from the Uniform Crime Reports Supplementary Homicide Reports (1999, 2000, and 2001). Socioeconomic variables pertained to education, income, occupational attainment, and employment. 2 tables and 44 references