When women kill: A comparative gender analysis of female-perpetrated homicide in Serbia

This article examines female-perpetrated homicide in Serbia through a comparative gender lens, based on 172 judicially finalized homicide cases, including a subset involving female offenders. It analyses sociodemographic characteristics, legal processing, and sentencing outcomes for both women and men, with special attention to intimate partner homicides (IPH). Findings show that female perpetrators are typically middle-aged, unemployed, and socioeconomically marginalized, often acting in contexts of prolonged abuse and psychological distress. Their violence tends to be situational and reactive. In contrast, male offenders exhibit broader age ranges, higher recidivism, and coercive motives rooted in jealousy and possessive control. Judicial responses differ markedly by gender. Courts more often cite mitigating factors for women—such as diminished mental capacity, lack of prior convictions, and caregiving roles—while men face harsher assessments based on criminal history and excessive force. These patterns reflect implicit gendered assumptions in judicial reasoning about culpability and risk. By situating these findings within comparative criminology and gender studies, the article contributes to research on lethal violence and calls for context-sensitive legal frameworks. It also underscores the need for harmonized, gender-disaggregated data on femicide and gender-based homicide.