Deadly Women: The Rise of Serial Killers
The phenomenon of female serial killers is an enigma that has captivated investigators, academics and the public alike. Women are generally considered less violent than their male counterparts, however, the recent history of organized attacks by female serial killers has raised questions about the prevalence of such acts in society. This article will explore the dark history of female serial killers, examining the motives, characteristics, and the eventual discovery of these dangerous women.
Female Serial Killers: A Dark History
Female serial killers are a rare and often overlooked phenomenon. The stigma and societal expectations of womanhood make it difficult to accept the concept of female serial killers, yet throughout history there is evidence of murderous women motivated by a variety of unresolved psychological conditions. From ancient accounts of female assassins, to the more modern stories of female serial killers, the presence of homicidal females has been documented throughout history.
In the 1700s and 1800s, female killers were often accused of witchcraft and persecuted for being witches. This period in history saw an influx of murder sprees conducted by women. Many of these cases were assumed to be acts of demonic possession or an infliction from supernatural forces. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that female serial killers began to be seen as something other than the work of witchcraft, leading to modern investigations into such cases.
Turning Villainy into a Women’s Prerogative
In modern times, female serial killers have become commonplace. This is due to a number of factors, including the rise of technology and increased access to information, as well as a shift in gender representation. Women are no longer seen as the weaker sex, but rather as capable and equal human beings with the same human emotions and flaws as men. This shift has allowed for the emergence of serial killers, both male and female, to be accepted as “normal.”
The most infamous female serial killer of the modern era is Aileen Wuornos, who murdered seven men in the early 1990s. While she is considered one of the most notorious female serial killers, Wuornos is just one of a long line of women who have committed murder on multiple occasions. Other female serial killers include Anna Marie Hahn, Nannie Doss, and Elizabeth Báthory.
Uncovering the Minds of Deadly Women
Female serial killers have a range of motivations, which may vary vastly from those of male serial killers. Women are more likely to have been victims of abuse and traumas in the past, which can lead to an unexplained craving for revenge and sense of entitlement. Women may also be motivated by money, attention, and notoriety. In order to understand the motivations behind their killings, it is important to uncover the individual psychology of these killers.
In many cases, female serial killers have been found to have a warped sense of justice and right and wrong. For example, the female serial killer Elizabeth Báthory, who massacred over 600 women in the 1600s, had a fixation with her own perceived beauty and sought to kill innocent girls to preserve her own youth. Other cases show a sense of power, with female serial killers committing heinous acts in order to dominate and control their victims.
A Glimpse into their Gruesome Acts of Violence
Female serial killers typically attack in different ways than their male counterparts. Female serial killers are more likely to kill through poisoning or by strangling or suffocating their victims. These non-confrontational methods allow them to kill easily and quickly, without alerting any attention to their actions. The gruesome details of female serial killers such as Wuornos reveal their ruthless and unchecked nature; Wuornos would often solicit her victims, murder them, and then take the money they had given her. Other female serial killers have brutalized their victims in various ways in order to satisfy their dark desires, such as the infamous Nannie Doss who gruesomely mutilated her husband with poison and other tools.
Questioning the Correlation between Gender and Homicide
The increasing trend of female serial killers can lead to the question whether there is a correlation between gender and homicide. It is clear from the prevalence of female serial killers that women can in fact be capable of murdering multiple victims, however, there is still much to learn about the motives behind such horrific acts. Similar to male serial killers, motive can vary massively from case to case. Female serial killers are not driven by the same power and dominance as their male counterparts, but rather by darker, and often deeply rooted desires for revenge, money, or fame.
Conclusion
The phenomenon of female serial killers is one of the most heinous trends in recent criminal activity. From witch-hunting in the 1800s to modern-day tactics, female serial killers have sadly become increasingly prevalent in society. While the reasons behind their malevolent actions is unclear, one thing is certain, the presence of these female killers is a reminder that anyone is capable of committing unspeakable acts of violence.
