Understanding Femicide from the Perpetrators’ Perspective: Narratives around Gender, Violence and Identity in Buenos Aires Público

Abstract

Femicide has received growing attention as an important social issue in Argentina and other Latin American countries. Currently, most of the sociological, psychological, criminological, and public health research available on the topic focuses on victims rather than perpetrators; research on femicide perpetrators has tended to be quantitative or from an etic perspective. Understanding the narratives around violence and gender that perpetrators use to contextualize, justify, or legitimize their crimes is crucial in preventing future femicides. Narrative interviews were conducted in three correctional facilities in Buenos Aires, Argentina with thirteen men convicted of femicide. Interviews were coded in MAXQDA20 and analyzed thematically using deductive and inductive codes with an eye towards identity, gender, and violence. Our analysis found that risk factors were mechanized into actual IPV behaviors based on how the perpetrator related to the situation in the context of their own masculinity. Threat of abandonment and necessity to physically communicate emotional turmoil both emerged as themes where adherence to traditional gender norms were mechanized into violence. Few participants characterized themselves as violent people though they were all serving sentences for violent crimes. Violence was normalized and frequently justified by most perpetrators. In some cases, participants explicitly said that they did not have an option other than violence. Participants viewed themselves exceptionally and did not view themselves as belonging to the category of people who commit femicides. Our analysis offers recommendations for primary violence prevention and gender-based violence interventions to center young men and potential perpetrators of IPV and femicide. In doing this, the burden of violence prevention shifts from victims to perpetrators and society at large. 

Table of Contents

Table of contents

Glossary……………………………………………………………………...……….9

Chapter 1: Introduction……………………………………..…………………….10

Chapter 2: Literature Review……………………………………………………..14

Chapter 3: Student Contribution…………………………………………………17

Chapter 4: Journal Article………………………………………………………...19

Abstract………………………………………………………………………….19

Introduction……………………………………………………………………..19

Methods………………………………………………………………………….21

Results…………………………………………………………………………...22

Discussion……………………………………………………………………….26

Limitations………………………………………………………………………28

Recommendations………………………………………………………………28

Conclusions……………………………………………………………………...28

Chapter 5: Public Health Implications…………………………………………...29

References…………………………………………………………………………..31

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Behavioral Psychology, Social Health Sciences, Public Health
Palavra-chave	intimate partner homicide intimate partner violence public health violence femicide behavioral science human rights gender-based violence
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dabney P. Evans, Emory University
Committee Members	Martin DiMarco, University of Buenos Aires

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