Femininity and Women's Violence

Abstract

Historically speaking, expectations of femininity have shaped the forms of violence women feel socially permitted or compelled to enact, revealing gendered power structures that drive women’s behavior. While masculinity is often associated with aggression, femininity has long been aligned with traits such as domesticity, emotional labor, and submissiveness. These norms have not eliminated female violence; rather, they have redirected it into forms deemed socially “acceptable,” such as poisoning, indirect harm, or violence that can be framed as defensive. Studies of female-perpetrated violence across different historical periods reveal that women’s aggression adapts to the boundaries of femininity. Such adaptations lead to methods that are least likely to violate gendered expectations. The methods women use are not simply personal choices but responses to gendered expectations that limit their access to power. This research examines how these patterns emerge and will shed light on the relationship between gender norms and the expression of violence. Analysis of historical studies, criminological research, and gender theory allows us to understand how women respond to social cues and bend their personalities to fit what the times allow. This work provides insights into the social and historical contexts in which women’s violence is understood.