Femicide

A Global Phenomenon Requiring an Intersectional Social Constructivist Approach

Abstract

Femicide is a relatively new area of study that was first introduced in 1976. Since then, there has been a push by many scholars to develop the field further, despite some arguments made that femicide is not as important of an issue given the relatively low rates of female homicides compared to male homicides. This article reviews three levels of analysis — micro, meso, and macro — and discusses culture and class as two contributing factors to femicide, illustrating that femicide is a complex global phenomenon that requires a multilateral and intersectional approach to be better understood. It concludes that by understanding and deconstructing certain social and institutional structures, we will be better equipped to understand femicide as a phenomenon and create more effective systems and legislation for a safer global society.