Recent research suggests that women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than by any other perpetrator. In addition, intimate partner homicide of men and women (femicide) victimization have been shown to have differing contexts and etiologies. Examining the specific patterns of intimate partner femicide is a crucial step toward developing conceptual and theoretical frameworks, as well as to identifying potential risk and protective factors, and enhancing development of strategies to prevent intimate partner femicide. In the past decade, a number of studies have examined femicide, focusing particularly on intimate partner femicide. Though conducted in different settings, covering multiple populations, and using a variety of methodologies, this body of research has yielded remarkably consistent findings. This paper will review the patterns of intimate partner femicide that have emerged from this research and from discussions at a 1999 interdisciplinary conference on femicide research. The presentation will delineate "what we know" about femicide in terms of victim and perpetrator demographics, type (marital vs. nonmarital) and intimate partner relationship status (current vs.former), contexts (e.g. separation), risk and protective factors at various socio-ecological levels (e.g. individual, community, organizational), known history of domestic violence, help-seeking prior to the femicide, and potential points of intervention. It will also outline what we don't know, and propose priorities for future research and intervention.
Learning Objectives: 1. Articulate why it is important to identify gender-specific patterns of intimate partner homicide. 2. Summarize recent knowledge about intimate partner femicide. 3. Identify and discuss potential research and intervention strategies to prevent intimate partner femicide
Keywords: Homicide, Women
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.