The rate of violence against females in the US often exceeds that of males. That wasn’t the case in the past. 85,000 Women Were Killed By Men in 2023–Report From the United Nations.
Author’s Notes
The US crime data below is from the National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau Of Justice Statistics of the US Department of Justice. I use survey data and not crimes reported to law enforcement via the FBI because of the lack of reporting of interpersonal crimes.
Portions of this article use verified Open AI data.
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On my first domestic violence call as a police officer, we encountered a woman beaten by her husband with a frying pan. Considering I had never witnessed an act of domestic violence before this, it was a shocking event that troubled me deeply.
It was my introduction to violence against women and interpersonal violence. A series of recent data releases addressing violence against women led to this article.
Rates of Violence For Males Exceeded That Of Females Until They Didn’t
There was a time before 2015 when the rate of violent crimes for males typically exceeded that for females. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), the rate of violent crime victimization for females exceeded that of males in 2015.
This marked a significant shift, as males historically experienced higher rates of violent crime. The Bureau of Justice Statistics noted it in their yearly report.
A review of annual reports from the Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that the largest increase in female victimization during that period happened in 2015 with females generally leading for overall violence or serious violence for 2015-2017.
Latest Data From Criminal Victimization From The Bureau Of Justice Statistics
The data below shows that females have higher rates of criminal victimization than males for total violent crimes and violent crimes excluding simple assaults (known as serious violent crimes) in 2023. Male and female violent victimization was essentially the same for all violent crimes in 2022.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): Women are disproportionately victims of intimate partner violence, which includes physical assault, rape, and stalking by current or former partners. The NCVS consistently reports higher rates of IPV for females compared to males.
Acquaintance Perpetrators: Women are more likely than men to be victimized by someone they know, such as a family member, friend, or acquaintance. In contrast, men are more often victimized by strangers
Sexual Violence: The majority of sexual violence victims are women, and these crimes are predominantly committed by known individuals, further highlighting the interpersonal nature of violence against females.
While not all violent crimes against females are interpersonal, a significant portion of victimization stems from relational dynamics. This contrasts with violent crime against males, which is more likely to involve strangers and occur in public settings.
Black Women And Girls-Office Of Justice Programs
Black women and girls are disproportionately affected by violence, trafficking, and systemic neglect, leading to high rates of their disappearance, and placing them at greater risk for homicide. Although they make up a significant portion of missing person cases in the U.S., their stories often go underreported and unnoticed by national media and law enforcement. According to the National Crime Information Center, in 2022, of the 271,493 girls and women reported missing, 97,924, or over 36 percent, were Black, despite the fact that Black women and girls comprised only 14 percent of the U.S. female population at the time.
85,000 Women Were Killed By Men in 2023–Report From The United Nations
A recent report by the United Nations shed light on the disturbing reality of violence against women globally, revealing that an average of 140 women are killed every day (emphasis added) most often at the hands of those closest to them. The report, which examined femicide – the gender-based killing of women – raised alarming concerns about the safety of women, particularly within their own homes, with intimate partners and family members being the leading perpetrators.
In 2023 alone, a staggering 85,000 women were killed by men (emphasis added). Of these, more than 51,000 were murdered by their husbands or close family members, highlighting the intimate and dangerous nature of the violence women face. Shockingly, the report stated that 60% of all female homicide cases were committed by male relatives, underscoring the vulnerability of women in their own households.
Conclusions
I did a podcast with four women offenders who, unexpectedly, told me of their sexual abuse as children by family or people they knew. Studies estimate that 50-80% of incarcerated women have experienced physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives. This includes violence in childhood (e.g., sexual abuse by family members) and adulthood (e.g., intimate partner violence) per the Urban Institute and Amnesty International USA.
I have read data where a rehabilitation program in Bosten reported that virtually all the women studied reported child and adult sex abuse and violence.
I attended a group counseling event for males on probation convicted of spouse abuse. Several could not understand why it was illegal to beat their significant others.
I’m not sure what happened between me being told as a young man that only cowards hit women and circumstances today. As a former cop, husband, and father of two daughters, I feel that this issue takes on an extreme sense of importance.
Few female offenders can completely escape a history of abuse; it leads to substance and mental health issues. It was once suggested to me that a sexually abused female (by people she knew) could never overcome her trauma without intensive counseling and treatment.
I did public affairs training in a women’s prerelease correctional center (they had a culinary arts program thus free food). I took a two-hour break in the courtyard while others did their presentations. I was surrounded by women inmates who told me that prison was the first time in their lives that they were not being beaten or abused by men. They got medical care and job training. They told me that prison was often a better alternative than being in the community.
Police officers on patrol have limited ability to stop the abuse of girls and women. Most happen in residential settings. This becomes a societal issue far more than a criminal justice initiative (which applies to all forms of violence).
Crimes against females (and frankly, all violence) need to be a priority for every member of society. Whether it’s outrageously violent and sexist “music” or other forms of “entertainment,” the promotion of violence needs to stop, and only society and the entertainment industry have that power.
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