PLOS Mental Health Community Case Studies: Working Towards the Prevention of Femicide

In our next ‘Community Case Studies’ blog, we speak to Dr Martín Hernán Di Marco and Dr Dabney Evans – authors of a recent Research Article in our journal, which aims to understand mental health in femicide perpetrators thus informing interventions. At PLOS Mental Health, we appreciate how sensitive this topic is and are mindful of the importance of striking a balance between avoiding messaging that equates mental health conditions with criminality, whilst still understanding the intricate mental health needs of violent crime perpetrators. We therefore spoke to Martin and Dabney about their work in this field and how they navigate this sensitive topic to help affected communities and work towards the prevention of femicide.

Please tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into this field of research

We began collaborating after meeting at the 2019 SVRI (Sexual Violence Research Initiative) Forum in Cape Town, a fantastic hub for us! We came from diverse backgrounds that complemented each other well. Martín had a background in sociology with a burgeoning interest in narrative criminology, while Dabney was trained in psychology, public health and law. As for our work on femicide perpetrators and perpetration, it was an issue we found was extensively tackled by activists and NGOs, yet surprisingly underexplored in academia.

What are the biggest challenges of working with vulnerable populations (in this case in the context of perpetrators of violent crimes) ?

Through the various projects we have led, we have faced several challenges in working with vulnerable people in prison. One of the primary challenges is gaining access to the correctional institutions. This requires communicating our intentions clearly and navigating bureaucratic processes to make them understandable to those working within the penal system. This is usually an ordeal. Another significant challenge is the need to care for the perpetrators without exposing them to additional risks beyond those they already face in prison. This creates ethical and moral tensions for us, yet it is clear that we have the duty to protect the rights of every participant.

What have been the most notable changes in your field in the last few years?

The field of femicide perpetration, though still relatively small, is beginning to explore new approaches. There has been a noticeable rise in research on narratives, discourses, and mental health, with emerging discussions on life course perspectives. However, it remains a nascent field with more questions than answers.

Where do you hope the field goes over the next 10 years?

Ideally, cross-disciplinary discussions and research would be commonplace. Given the sensitive and practice-oriented nature of this field, we aim to forge bridges between disciplines. For example, sociology and public health studies have already collaborated effectively. However, there is potential for even more substantial engagement, such as integrating the understanding of patterns of meaning (a classic focus of anthropology) with patterns of violence (typically addressed by public health and criminology). Ultimately this work will result in interventions to prevent femicide from occurring saving the lives of women and girls. 

…Ultimately this work will result in interventions to prevent femicide from occurring saving the lives of women and girls.

Mental health in those who have committed crimes is a very sensitive topic – do you have any thoughts on how we can navigate this?

Unfortunately, the men who perpetrate femicide are often pathologized as having mental illness or being ‘bad apples’. The truth is we are all swimming in the sea of patriarchy. Boys who are exposed to trauma and abuse often recreate those dynamics in their intimate relationships. That is why work on reducing adverse, and improving positive, childhood experiences is incredibly important. Likewise gender norms transformation is critical to ensure that everyone understands the harms of gender inequality for people of all gender identities. We advocate for collective interventions that prioritize systemic change. This includes shifting norms around violence and masculinity, and improving how institutions identify and respond to violence. These efforts seem more appropriate and essential for achieving meaningful and lasting change.

…gender norms transformation is critical to ensure that everyone understands the harms of gender inequality for people of all gender identities…

***Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of Martín Hernán Di Marco and Dabney Evans, and do not necessarily reflect the views of PLOS or PLOS Mental Health

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