Content area
Full Text
Abstract
South African research on women who commit crime gained momentum over the past decade, yet little is known about their routes to criminality. This article contributes to the understanding of maternal filicide (the phenomenon of mothers who murder their children) in the context of pathways theory by examining the lived experiences of women who killed their children. Eight women incarcerated in Gauteng, South Africa were identified using purposive sampling. Drawing on evidence from the in-depth personal interviews, the study uncovered four theoretical pathways to explain maternal filicide, namely adversities during childhood and youth; lack of support and suicide ideation; problematic and abusive intimate relationships; and strains associated with motherhood and economic deprivation. The aetiological tenets of these pathways appear interrelated and overlaying. An unwanted child and failure to provide medical care to a neglected or injured child were the most reported motives for filicide.
Keywords: Maternal filicide; female criminality; pathway theory; child murder; family violence
Introduction
While ancient myths passed down generationally may allude to the murder of biological children for the greater good of society, the murder of one's own child is not a universally shared value in modern society (Tyano & Cox, 2010). Child murder at the hands of a parent defies societal beliefs of parental roles and responsibilities. When a mother murdered her child, her acceptance of and commitment to gender norms and expectations are questioned. Despite South Africa's embodied legislation, including the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and the Children's Act 38 of 2005, which serve to preserve the best interests of children nationally, children remain vulnerable to violence. Headlines such as "Mom slits baby's throat as she tries to 'end her children's suffering'" (Nemakonde, 2021) and "Ballito mom tied up and drowned her 'difficult' child, 4, then tried to kill herself" (Wicks & Pijoos, 2022) illustrate the reality and brutal nature of the phenomenon in South Africa. This article examines the lived experiences of incarcerated women in South Africa who have murdered their children, ultimately to identify potential pathways that lead to maternal filicide.
While ancient myths passed down generationally may allude to the murder of biological children for the greater good of society, the murder of one's own child is not a universally shared...