| In this study we assess the regional differences in the relationship between women's economic and social status and homicide offgending. While regional patterns in offending is one of the most commonly studied phenomena in the violence literature, little attention has been given to whether regional differences contribute to the disparities in types of female homicide offending. This lack of attention is significant in light of evidence suggesting that significant disparities exist in the status of women by region (i.e., south versus non-south) and that women in the south may hold similar Southern cultural views toward violence as males. Specifically, we investigate whether the status of women differs significantly in the south relative to non-southern regions of the U.S. and, if so, how these disparities translate into regional variations in female homicides by relationship type (e.g., acquaintances, family members, and intimates). |
Updated 05/20/2006