Women who murder usually do it for a specific reason. This is why their victims are almost always an intimate or someone else in their life. It is usually an act of desperation or for self help, but because of gender-stereotypes there is very little research that has been conducted regarding females who may fall under the category of psychopath. Women are not considered to be predatory killers, but in some cases, this may be how the women are killing. The case of Aileen Wuornos is a perfect case of a predatory killer who may have been a psychopath. Wuornos would look for men along an interstate and murder them. In total she is responsible for at least seven killings in Florida from 1989-1991. Her victims were complete strangers which contradicts the theories the research produced. She did not murder for her own protection or self help. Also, Wuornos was never able to take a test or survey to determine whether or not she was a psychopath. There are many factors concerning the Wuornos case that separate her from psychopaths as well. For example, she confessed and "volunteered" for the death penalty. This contradicts many of the characteristics of a psychopath, who normally can rationalize their actions in to being the right thing to do. Wuornos does not fit the most commonly used model of murders, male or female. Much more research needs to be conducted to understand women like Aileen Wuornos (Shipley, Stacey L. and Arrigo, Bruce A, 2004). Myra Hindley is another case of women, who may be defined as a serial killer, who does not fit the mold. Hindley and her partner, Ian Brady, kidnapped, tortured, and killed children during an age where murder was considered a man's sport. This was not a case where the woman offender felt threatened or committed her acts for a specific reason. Although, Hindley's face became the symbol for many of evil and she changed people's perception of the woman killer at this time. Furthermore, this case demonstrated how little is actually known about female murders (Storrs, Elizabeth, 2004). The cases of Hindley and West were media frenzies. Hindley's case was interesting to the media because women who kill children are considered far more dangerous then men who commit the same crime. The media painted Hindley to be pure evil because she was a woman, but not Brady. Hindley became a scapegoat in the crime because of her gender and Brady was considered obscure in the crime from the media. Hindley's case demonstrates how the media can intensify a murder committed by a woman because of the lack of understanding these crimes when committed by a female (Storrs, Elizabeth, 2004). Rosemary West's crimes were also intensified by the media. West and her husband, Fred, had committed at least ten murders together, some of which were their own children. It is suspected that West committed her crimes because of abuse she endured as a child from her violent father and possibly later from her husband. Although, Fred may have been subject to abuse as well, it is the media that reacts to victims of abuse differently in reference to gender. In patriarchal cultures, gender often influences a hierarchy in which women are the lowest. The media exploited West because of this (Storrs, Elizabeth, 2004). It is clear further research is necessary in this subject in general. One way to broaden knowledge of this topic is to conduct thorough in-depth interviews with female offenders of this crime. From these interviews an analysis of the mental state of these women could be evaluated as well as their personal history to determine the effects that they may have on their actions. These interviews would also offer insight into what may have actually been the event that made these women snap. If we could learn more about this then we may be able to prevent further homicides committed by women (Scott, Lori J. and Davies, Kim, 2003).
Chapters
1. Introduction
2. Description of Topic
3. Theoretical Perspectives
4. Discussion and Analysis
5. Conclusion
6. References
