Self‐Defense and Women Who Kill

Abstract

Self‐defense is a legal justification frequently invoked by women who have killed their intimate partners. Considering that the context of female homicide, both in terms of female homicide victims and female‐perpetrated homicide, is most likely one of domestic violence, women's argument of self‐defense is sensible. Nonetheless, the claim of self‐defense has been criticized, especially in relation to recent highly publicized trials.

Male victims of domestic violence among professional families: Shackled in masculinity

“…Women being abusive and violent towards men are affected by inter-parental aggression (their experience of seeing the father hurt the mother), love, self-esteem, and influence of alcohol (Caetano et al 2000, Lewis 2002, Chase et al 2003, Stuart et al 2006, Goldenson 2009, Hines 2009, Sarmiento 2019. Some studies explain that women commit violence as vengeance for being victims, and as an effort to maintain personal freedom (Kernsmith 2005, True 2020), to defend themselves (Babcock et al 2005, Dutton et al 2013, Whitaker 2013, Carlyle et al 2014, Hiltz 2018, Lasky 2019, Boxall et al 2020, Walker et al 2022, and also to protect their children (Yourstone et al 2008, Stewart et al 2014, Caman et al 2016. Female perpetrators of domestic violence have anti-social personalities and psychological and physical aggression, where they report to experience anxiety (Weizmann-Henelius 2006, Zacarias et al 2012, McKeown 2014.…”