Lecture room: Árnagarður – 304. Click for a map.
Working institution
Associate professor in social work at the University of Iceland
Abstract
In this study, all cases of femicide in Iceland, during a thirty-year period were explored. A total of sixteen women and girls were killed during the years 1986 – 2015. Femicide was defined in this study as a murder of a woman by a partner, former partner, or because of passion. Eleven femicide cases occurred during this time period according to this definition. The data analyzed were verdicts and news of the incidents. Qualitative methods were used for analysis. Interestingly there was a different dynamic related to femicide cases which included 1) sex femicide, 2) former partners and 3) current partners. Alcohol consumption and the willingness of the victim to end sex seems to be a dangerous mixture according to the results of the sex femicide cases. Alcohol consumption was involved in all current partner femicide cases in addition to low SES status. Empathy was lacking and patriarchal views were prominent in some of them. Jealousy and possessiveness were major themes in former partner femicide cases, but not alcohol consumption. They cases are discussed as well as implications for practice.