Aileen Wuornos: The Victim Behind the Monster 06/29/12 Abstract: Female serial killers are a rare presence in our world. Though women have been killing for many years, their motivations differ greatly from those of their male counterparts. One of the most perplexing examples among this small group is the case of Aileen Wuornos. During a twelve month period beginning in 1989 and ending in 1990, Wuornos murdered seven men. She failed to meet the usual characteristics one would expect from a female serial killer.
Aileen is shown to be very rough and tough, not caring about her appearance while Charlize is often conveyed as a sex symbol in Hollywood. Therefore, it can be seen that Aileen’s character was masculinised in order to fit her serial killer ‘image’. This can be related to earlier criminologists who believed that female criminals were somehow biological degenerates, therefore, they were more masculine then feminine. W.I Thomas’s theory of the way in which women’s sexuality is associated with their criminal behaviour can also be applied. Aileen, being a prostitute, can be seen as using her
This subcategory believes in domination and control, therefore, sadism is common and sexual excitement is gained through the cries of pain and humiliation of the victim. The disorganized serial killers possess no subcategory, as to the fact that they are more than likely
Meaning if she says no, it means just that “NO” when a person goes beyond that word he is rapping a woman. Gender and Crime. (2002). In World of Criminal Justice, Gale. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/worldcrims/gender_and_crime In some states it is not uncommon for a woman to call, the police for help when the partner assault her then ask the police not to lock him up.
Cohen explains how the use of folk devils create a ‘moral panic’ where now society becomes frightened by these ‘folk devils’ and label male individuals according to this stereotype, thus resulting in different treatment. This causes deviancy amplification where the more males are portrayed as deviant individuals, the more deviant behaviour they carry out as it is expected of them anyway and there is a self fulfilling prophecy: ‘living out their label’ as proposed by Becker. In addition the chivalry thesis comes into play as females are therefore seen as ‘not as bad’ in society, including by the police, so if they were to carry out criminal activity the criminal justice system may be more lenient towards them as they have no stigma attached. This reinforces the assumption that male’s are the ‘folk devils’ as it would therefore reveal men to have higher crime statistic rates. For example according to the ministry of justice (2009) it has been found that women are more likely to receive a caution than prosecution: the figure for females was 49% in 2007 compared to the male caution figure of 30%.
It fits in with Charles Tilly’s theories outlined below. Misogynist comments made by a male police officer, a group of people (mainly but not exclusively women) have challenged his statements in a radical way. Because of this constant interaction between power holders (the police) and the challengers (original organisers) SlutWalk can be defined as a social movement. When SlutWalk gained all important notoriety it shifted to a broader group of people challenging the whole of society’s attitudes towards women’s sexualities. It is this sustained challenge presented by the global SlutWalks that ensures its place among social movements (Tilly, 2003).
In other parts of the world sexism is more prominent because males have dominant roles over women and therefore look down upon them. Not only is there sexism, but there is ambivalent sexism which is defined as sexism directed against women based on both positive and negative attitudes (hostility and benevolence) rather than uniform dislike. To better understand ambivalent sexism I took a test that would rate my hostile and ambivalent sexism. The Ambivalent sexism inventory measure how sexist you are towards men and women. My scores from this test were quite surprising to me.
vii) Male serial killers are often the ones who use violence in their murders. (1) For example shooting or stabbing viii) Women tend to use less violent ways of killing. (2) For example poisoning or asphyxia (3) Expert say this can be linked to the fact that women are predisposed to be more nurturing and caring so it would be harder for them to kill in violent ways. g) They choose victims who are easy to kill. ix) Women will often target someone weaker then them (4) For example a child in their care, or someone elderly.
Slut shaming Slut shaming is defined as the act of making a woman feel guilty or inferior for engaging in certain sexual behaviors that violate traditional gender expectations. It is also used as a form of victim blaming for rape and sexual assault, such as claiming the crime was caused (either in part or in full) due the woman wearing revealing clothing or previously acting in a forward, sexual manner prior to not consenting to sex. SlutWalk protest marches were sparked by an incident of slut shaming. It began when Constable Michael Sanguinetti, a Toronto Police officer, suggested that to remain safe, "women should avoid dressing like sluts." By slut shaming, the blame is actually pushed from the criminal to the victim, from the rapist to the raped, an action of victim blaming.
The following quote is discussing the issue of sexism and its relation regarding the Blame Approach: “The second approach also concentrates on blame; however it lays all blame entirely on men. This approach has been promoted by a brand of feminism, which holds the male-dominated patriarchal system responsible for all the evils in the world” (Zur 2). Men can also be victims of domestic violence, as well. Some men do not want to harm women or hit them, and women can take that to their advantage and be