Although the genres of these nine works vary – from fantasy literature to crime novels – each of them features the murder of a woman. This trend was highlighted on Instagram by writer Wendy Jones.
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It is noted, however, that although this trend may be surprising, it has actually been noticeable for some time. Gillian Flynn’s psychological thrillers, in particular, have become very popular, after which the murders of women became central themes in crime novels.
Critics argue that the constant portrayal of women as victims risks normalizing violence against them. However, the biggest paradox of this genre is that women are both the most loyal readers of such genres and it is suggested that this may also be a way to cope with fears.
Crime novelist and critic Laura Wilson states that such novels reflect “some very real fears.” “The likelihood that a woman will be killed by someone she knows, such as partners or family members, is much higher than in the case of men, who are much more often killed by strangers,” said L. Wilson.
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Novelist Denise Mina traces this interest back to 19th-century London newspapers, when it was noticed that stories about crimes sold well as long as the victim fit a certain profile. “The motif of a dead woman, especially a beautiful, young, white, virtuous woman, has sold stories well for centuries,” she said. “In fictional stories, it was almost always exactly such a victim.”
Crime novelist Lori Rader-Day says that crime novels reflect our contemporary social environment, as well as the opportunity to safely resolve anxiety-inducing situations. According to L. Rader-Day, a traditional crime novel ends in less than 400 pages: the mystery is solved, order is restored, which is why it provides a sense of comfort.
“Most readers are also women, so if a writer wants to convey anxiety, the choice of a woman is a good option – the anxiety that they themselves could become victims,” she said.
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