Of men:
“Gerald Parker, known as the ‘Bedroom Basher’ was convicted of murdering five women and a full-term fetus in their homes.  …The personalized violence inflicted on helpless victims has no boundaries or limitations…” (Hickey, 128).

Of women:
“These are the quiet killers” (Hickey, 212).
 

Men and women who kill
Overwhelmingly, most murderers are male.
When women do kill, it is often a partner or intimate
In Hickey’s sample, 16% of serial killers are women
Both similarities and differences exist; differences are often exaggerated

Male killers and their monnikers
 
 
 

Monikers for female killers are either more neutral or trivializing
 
 
 

The [stereotypical] male psychopath
I just wondered how it would feel to shoot grandma.
--Edmund Kemper
 
 

The “quiet type” killer???
This is my ambition – to have killed more people – more helpless people – than any man or woman has ever killed.
--Jane Toppan
 
 

The “emergence” of male and female serial killers
Patterns  over time

Patterns for both males and females seem to have increased sharply, beginning in about the 1950s

However, we know that serial killing has existed throughout recent history

Apparent increases are also likely due to
Population growth
Improved police investigation
Improved reporting practices
Increased media attention
 
 

Myths of the male serial killer
Nearly all white
All male
Insane
Lust killers
Kill dozens
Kill alone
Intelligent
High mobility
Sexually abused

(Facts:)
About 20% Black
Nearly 17% female
2-4% insane
Not all
Most under 10
25% partners
Most average
Most local
Rejection and abandonment
 
 

Myths of the female serial killer
As women become more “liberated” they become more violent
Women are never violent except in self defense
Male and female killers share few commonalities
Female killers kill for revenge or because of “evil” forces
Women always act alone
 

(Facts:)
Research finds no support for the “liberation” hypothesis
Some women plan and kill because they want to
Both often suffer past abuse and abandonment
A full range of motivation exists
32% had partners
 
 

Male and female serial killers: Who are they?

Men
Very few held college degrees
Generally held blue-collar jobs
Some use position to connect with victims
Many have substantial criminal history
80% white
Average age ~28
 

Women
Many unemployed or listed no occupation
Some were housekeepers, waitresses, small business
Very few had criminal history
95% white
Average age = 30
 
 

Priors and history
Men
Institution 67%
Property  45%
Sex-related 37%
Children 18%
Drugs  17%
Fire, animal 14%
Homicide 13%
Assault   6%
Combination 68%
 
 
 
 

Targets:
Male killers

Gender
40% targeted females only
20% targeted males only
37% killed both
80% killed at least one female
60% killed at least one male

Age
40% killed only adults
20% killed at least one child
45% killed at least one teen
17% killed at least one elderly]

Mobility
35% traveling
 

Women killers

Gender
Male and female children equally
More likely to select at least one male victim
When adult victim only, more likely male
53% also involved in killing female victim

Age
19% killed children only
33% killed adults only
66% killed at least one adult
40% killed at least one child
30% killed at least one elderly
Few killed from all age groups

Mobility
14% traveling
 

Who do they kill?
Men
Strangers (70%+)
    Young females alone
    Children alone
    Travelers
    Young males alone
    Employers/business
    Elderly alone
    Patients
    Police
    Racial targets

Acquaintances
Family
 
 

Women
Strangers only        24%
At least one     32%
Family only             34%
At least one     50%
Acquaintances          19%
At least one     35%
 

When strangers
    Children
    patients

When family
    Husbands
    children
 
 
 
 
 

Methods

Men
Firearms* 40%
Strangulation* 37%
Stabbed* 34%
Bludgeon* 26%
Firearms 19%
Stabbed 13%
Strangulation 11%
Other  16%
Combination 42%
*some/sometimes
 

Women
Poison*  45%
Shooting* 20%
Bludgeoning* 16%
Suffocation* 16%
Stabbing* 11%
Drowning*  5%
Poison   35%
 Shooting  8%
Other  14%
Combination 33%
*some/sometimes
 
 

Motives

Men
Sex*  46%
Control* 29%
Money*  19%
Enjoyment* 16%
Sex      9%
Racism    7%
Money    7%
Mental    6%
Other  16%
Combination 50%
*Some/sometimes

Women
Money*     47%
Control* 27%
Enjoyment* 11%
Sex*  10%
Money  27%
Enjoyment   3%
Sex    0%
Other  24%
Combination 15%
*Some/sometimes
 

Disposition

Men
Prison  45%
Death penalty 28%
Pending   5%
Suicide   3%
Killed    3%
Mental    3%
Escaped   1%
Free    1%
 

Women
Prison  64%
Death penalty 18%
Pending   3%
Suicide N/A
Killed    4%
Mental    5%
Escaped N/A
Free  N/A

Context?
Values, social norms

Masculinity, femininity

Racism, sexism, heterosexism…

Example:  Atlanta Youth Murders
    Black victims
    Racial hostility in Atlanta
    Perceived media and government apathy
    Black serial killer
 
 

I hear the children singing
But amidst the melody
I hear a tiny voice cry.
--Forrest Hairston,
“I Hear the Children Singing”
From the Atlanta Youth Murders
 
 

Victim facilitation?
Prostitutes and hitchhikers are at the highest level of risk.

“Hitchhikers, students walking alone, women living alone or seeking employment, and women engaged in certain professions and jobs (such as nurses, models, and waitresses) sometimes or frequently increased their risk factor by associating with total strangers.  Females who had lifestyles or employment that tended to bring them into contact with strangers appeared to increase their chances of being victimized” (Hickey, 142).
 

A tale of two mothers
Andrea Yates

Tabitha Pollock

Andrea Yates – murderer?

Killed 5 children, ages 7 mos to 7 yrs by drowning
Called the police: “I have killed my children.”
Admitted that she planned and carried out the killings
 

Who knew?   Russell Yates?
History
Incidents
quotes
 

Tabitha Pollock
history
 

Outcomes
Andrea Yates (the perpetrator)
Russell Yates (the partner)
 
 

Outcomes
Xxx (the perpetrator)
Tabitha Pollock (the partner)
 

Updates
Andrea Yates
Tabitha Pollock
 

So what?
The social context of serial murder includes

Ideals of masculinity and femininity

    Social norms and expectations associated with “real men” and “real women”

“Family Values”
    Motherhood as an institution
    Fatherhood (or the lack thereof) as less important
    The family is a private sphere, exempt to interference
 

The objectification and devaluation of certain victims (especially as related to gender, race, sexual orientation…)
    Homosexuality as deviant (especially for men)
    Devaluation of women and the feminine
    Racial minorities as “less than” or irrelevant
 

Certain lifestyles as less deserving
    Prostitutes
    Hitchhikers
    Social outcasts
    Street kids