Understanding and preventing femicide using a cultural and ecological approach

Abstract

Femicide – the killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man (often an intimate partner), on account of her gender – is not only a complex phenomenon but also a leading cause of premature death among women globally (Corradi et al, 2016; Vives-Cases et al, 2016). To effectively manage or prevent cases of femicide – and other forms of violence against women – it is therefore necessary to comprehend the sociocultural and ecological parameters that may influence it (Vives-Cases et al, 2016). While viewing femicide from a cultural perspective increases its complexity, it is nevertheless essential to consider not only how Western and non-Western cultures influence myriad individual, organizational, communal and societal attitudes regarding male violence against women, but also how these attitudes can in turn determine public policies and the state’s actions in relation to such violence (Flood and Pease, 2009; Gill et al, 2016; Vives-Cases et al, 2016). In taking such a cultural and ecological perspective, this chapter seeks to explore and understand femicide in European countries.