The term ‘serial killer’ often brings to mind male perpetrators, but there is a long history of female serial killers throughout the world.
From Belle Gunness, who murdered her suitors in the early 1900s, to Aileen Wuornos, whose story was turned into an Academy Award-winning film in 2003, female serial killers have been responsible for some of the most heinous and notorious murders in history.
Though female serial killers have been known to exist throughout history, they are often overlooked and overshadowed by their male counterparts. This is likely due to the fact that women who kill are often viewed as anomalous, while men who kill are seen as “normal”.
Female serial killers do not adhere to the traditional gender roles of being nurturing and passive, which makes them seem even more aberrant.
What are Female Serial Killers
Female serial killers are perpetrators of multiple unsolved homicides, usually with a cooling-off period between each crime. They are often driven by psychological and emotional needs, for example a need for power or control.
Female serial killers often use less violent methods of killing than their male counterparts, such as poison or suffocation. Additionally, female serial killers tend to target victims they know or are familiar with— a spouse, family member, or elderly person in their care.
While some female serial killers have been known to kill for monetary gain or other tangible rewards, most act out of a need to feel powerful or get revenge.
Brief historical context
The history of female serial killers dates back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, with some of the most notorious figures including Belle Gunness, Aileen Wuornos, and Martha Beck.
Belle Gunness murdered her suitors in the early 1900s for their money, while Aileen Wuornos killed seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. Martha Beck, who was a nurse, killed her patients in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
More recently, in the 2000s, serial killer Juana Barraza murder more than 11 elderly women in Mexico.
Motives and Psychological Profiles
Common motivations for female serial killers can vary drastically, but often involve a need for power or control. Female serial killers are typically driven by deep psychological and emotional needs, such as a desire to feel powerful or get revenge.
Some female serial killers have killed for monetary gain or other tangible rewards, while others have killed out of jealousy or anger. Additionally, some female serial killers have been known to kill out of a need for attention or recognition.
Different psychological profiles and theories related to their behavior
Psychologists and criminologists have long been fascinated by the behavior of female serial killers, and have attempted to explain their motivation for committing such heinous crimes.
One theory posited by some experts is that these women were acting out of a need for control or power, as they often targeted victims they knew or had a connection to.
Other theories suggest that female serial killers may be driven by an inner desire for attention or recognition, or a need to feel powerful. Additionally, some experts have suggested that female serial killers may be driven by mental illness or an impulse to act out aggressively in response to a traumatic event.
Notorious Female Serial Killers
Belle Gunness: Belle Gunness was a Norwegian-American serial killer who murdered her suitors in the early 1900s for their money. She is believed to have killed at least 40 people in total, including her own children.
Aileen Wuornos: Aileen Wuornos was an American serial killer who killed seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. Her story was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 2003.
Martha Beck: Martha Beck was a nurse and serial killer who murdered her patients in the late 1940s and early 1950s. She was convicted of three murders, though it is believed she may have killed as many as 20 people.
Studies and notable details of their crimes
Belle Gunness, also known as “Lady Bluebeard” and “The LaPorte Black Widow”, was a Norwegian-American serial killer who murdered her suitors in the early 1900s for their money. She is believed to have killed at least 40 people in total, including her own children.
Her victims were mainly men who responded to her matrimonial ads, although she is also believed to have killed her own children and her adopted daughter.
Gunness was never caught and it is believed that she died in 1908 after setting fire to the house where she lived with her victims.
Challenges in Investigating Female Serial Killers
Investigating female serial killers can be a difficult and challenging task for law enforcement. Due to the nature of their crimes, female serial killers are often able to avoid detection and capture for long periods of time.
Additionally, some female serial killers may have the added advantage of appearing unassuming or nonthreatening, making it easier to go unnoticed for extended periods. Furthermore, female serial killers often have very specific target victims, which can make it difficult for investigators to identify patterns or connections between cases.
Finally, due to societal norms and gender roles, female serial killers may be less likely to draw suspicion than their male counterparts.
Role of gender stereotypes and biases
Gender stereotypes and biases can often have an effect on the way female serial killers are investigated and viewed by law enforcement.
Studies have shown that female serial killers are less likely to be identified as such than their male counterparts due to gender stereotypes that suggest women are less capable of committing violent crimes.
Additionally, gender bias can lead investigators to discount or overlook evidence that could point to a female suspect. This can cause female serial killers to remain undetected for longer periods of time and also lead to their victims not being properly investigated or identified.
Societal Perception and Media Coverage
Female serial killers have historically been portrayed in a sensationalized way in popular culture and media. This often leads to the perpetuation of inaccurate stereotypes and false assumptions about female serial killers which can negatively impact the way they are viewed by society.
In most instances, female serial killers are portrayed as seductive, calculating, and ruthless, although this is often far from the truth. The media tends to focus on the sensational aspects of their crimes rather than providing an accurate depiction of their motivations and backgrounds.
This can lead to a distorted view of female serial killers in popular culture and media, which can further reduce public compassion for victims of these crimes.
Fascination and morbid curiosity surrounding these cases
The cases of female serial killers have always been a source of morbid fascination for many people. This is in part due to the fact that these types of crimes are seen as particularly shocking and disturbing.
The idea that a woman could be capable of such heinous acts often goes against traditional gender roles, making them seem even more sinister and mysterious. Additionally, female serial killers typically target specific victims, which can lead to a feeling of suspense and fear as people try to guess who the next victim might be.
All of these elements make female serial killers an intriguing topic for many, although it is important to remember that they are still real people and not just sensationalized figures in popular culture.
Conclusion
Female serial killers are a rare but real phenomenon in the history of crime and violence. They have been responsible for some of the most heinous and notorious murders in history, yet they often remain overlooked and overshadowed by their male counterparts.
In order to understand the motivations behind female serial killers, it is important to look beyond traditional gender roles and explore both psychological profiles and societal perceptions surrounding these cases.
Only by doing so can we gain a better understanding of the phenomenon and begin to address the challenges faced in identifying and apprehending female serial killers.
