Evil or Insane? The Female Serial Killer and Her Doubly Deviant Femininity(2) Helen Gavin

 


Evil or Insane? The Female Serial Killer and Her Doubly Deviant Femininity(2)

Helen Gavin

 

1. Introduction (2)

It is tempting to suppose that the serial killer is a modern phenomenon, because the first time this term was used was in the 1930’s. However, simply because they were not named as such does not mean that serial killers have not been with us for some time, they may have just not been subject to the same scientific attention as now. The descriptions of murder and mayhem found in folk tales still appear to be stories about serial killers, albeit supernatural in nature.[i] Many include women as the central evil character, the murderer. For example, Hansel and Gretel encounter a witch who wishes to eat them; it is unlikely they are her first potential victims. However, real life serial killers are much more likely to be male, choosing predominantly female victims. When we encounter a female serial killer, the surprise is not just her rarity, but also her ordinary nature. She is no witch or evil queen, she is just a woman

    When there is a spotlight on a female serial killer, she is represented as if she were the only one. Aileen Wuornos was convicted of the murder of seven men, and is regularly referred to as America’s first and only female serial killer.[ii] The impression persists that men are the only creatures who repeatedly kill, and that women serial killers are almost non-existent. It is difficult to find explanations in the literature surrounding serial killing without reference to men. Can those theoretical examinations be applied to the women and girls who kill, then kill again, and again?


[i] Helen Gavin, ‘The damsel in distress: not as sweet as she is painted?’ Paper presented at the 4th Global Conference on Evil, Women and the Feminine, Prague, Czech Republic, May, 2012. This paper on evil women in fairy stories suggests that such tales contain warnings about the dangers from serial killers in communities that could not protect themselves or their children.

[ii] Cable News Network (CNN)

 http://archives.cnn.com/2002/wuornos.execution/[retrieved1.2.13] 2002

This report incorrectly identifies Aileen Wuornos as America’s first female serial killer.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crime Classification Manual Part II Chapter 6 J 34

Image
  Crime Classification Manual Part II Chapter 6 J 34 A STANDARD SYSTEM FOR INVESTIGATING AND CLASSIFYING VIOLENT CRIMES SECOND EDITION   Investigation The group involved with the murder was not a structured gang at the time of assault but more a gathering of bored young people. The attack was not directed by distinctive leadership, but started with a suggestion from some- one to rob somebody. Not long after the proposition was raised, Catherine Fuller walked by.
Read more

Crime Classification Manual Part II Chapter 8 B34

Image
  Crime Classification Manual Part II Chapter 8 B34 A STANDARD SYSTEM FOR INVESTIGATING AND CLASSIFYING VIOLENT CRIMES SECOND EDITIO N   After the girls moved in with their natural father, they were able to disclose the abuse. The case was reported to authorities. The mother denied any knowledge of the offenses.
Read more

Crime Classification Manual Part II Chapter 9 B 5

Image
  Crime Classification Manual Part II Chapter 9 B 5 A STANDARD SYSTEM FOR INVESTIGATING AND CLASSIFYING VIOLENT CRIMES SECOND EDITIO N   Crime Scene Indicators Frequently Noted. The robber usually spends a minimum amount of time at the scene. Typically, he brings a weapon or the threat of having one, such as a bomb. Sometimes communication between the robber and the victim is written or verbal. Communication is minimal.
Read more