Author: Kana Takamatsu
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.GD-01-04
Year: 2001
Academic Program: Gender and Development Studies (GDS)
Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2001
Examination Committee: Kyoko Kusakabe (Chairperson); Bernadette P. Resurreccion, Willi Zimmerman (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: Female and male crimes have different characteristics, especially in homicide cases. A large percentage of female homicide cases occur within the household. Homicides committed by women are strongly tied to the relations within the household, therefore the backgrounds of and reasons behind homicide cases are strongly related to the environment within the household. The criminal justice system in Japan is not supposed to intervene in civil affairs, including problems within the household. Therefore the problems which are considered civil affairs are generally invisible to society. Female criminal offenders are treated through biases and assumptions prevalent within the criminal justice system. In addition, the backgrounds and reasons of female homicide cases tend not be considered serious problems. This study attempts to identify the biases and assumptions reflected on intra-household gender roles and relations in homicide cases in Japan where the wife kills the husband, and to examine how female criminal offenders are ideologically treated. This study examines and discusses cases where women commit homicide against their husbands as a result of domestic violence committed against them. Domestic violence against women is a background of the cases in this study. Examining how domestic violence is considered in homicide cases where a wife kills her husband is a crucial component of this study. Case studies (the record of actual court cases) show how female criminal offenders are ideologically treated in the criminal justice system and as well, the consideration of domestic violence in the same sphere. From these case studies, it is clear that female criminal offenders are considered through biases and assumptions within the criminal justice system. Female criminal offenders are considered through an image of women as good mothers and wives. If the character of the offender does not go against this image, she tends to be not punished strictly by the criminal justice system. However, if the offender is against the im
Scholarship Donor(s): Partial Scholarship of AIT
Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development
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