Gender Disparities and Socioeconomic Triggers in Filicide-Suicide—An Analysis of Media Portrayals
Objectives: Filicide-suicide, a tragic form of homicide-suicide where a parent kills their child before taking their own life, is poorly understood, particularly in the context of gender dynamics. This study aims to explore the gender disparities and socioeconomic triggers in filicide-suicide cases...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Lahore
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of University College of Medicine and Dentistry |
| Online Access: | https://journals.uol.edu.pk/jucmd/article/view/3624 |
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| Summary: | Objectives: Filicide-suicide, a tragic form of homicide-suicide where a parent kills their child before taking their own life, is poorly understood, particularly in the context of gender dynamics. This study aims to explore the gender disparities and socioeconomic triggers in filicide-suicide cases in Pakistan, analyzing the characteristics of victims and perpetrators as reported in the media.
Methodology: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using reports from major Pakistani newspapers over two years (January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020). Data were extracted from online newspaper archives, focusing on sociodemographic traits, the methods of filicide-suicide, precipitating factors, and the gender and age of both victims and perpetrators. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS 26.
Results: Forty-four filicide-suicide incidents were identified. The majority of cases occurred in Punjab (63.6%), followed by Sindh (34.1%), with a single case from KPK (2.3%). Urban areas reported 56.8% of the incidents. Female perpetrators were more prevalent than males, and most victims were also female. The average age of victims was 10.18 years (SD 9.5). Notably, many cases involved multiple victims, a rare phenomenon in existing literature. Drowning (38.6%) and poisoning (31.8%) were the most common methods. Socioeconomic pressures, particularly financial stress, were frequently cited as precipitating factors.
Conclusion: The findings highlight gender disparities in filicide-suicide cases in Pakistan. Female perpetrators and victims dominate these incidents, reflecting deep-rooted gender inequalities. Women’s disproportionate exposure to socioeconomic hardships and societal pressures likely contributes to these tragic outcomes. Addressing these disparities through gender-sensitive mental health interventions is critical to mitigating the risks of filicide-suicide and promoting broader gender equality in health.
Key Words: homicide-suicide, filicide, suicide, mental health.
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| ISSN: | 2790-3443 2790-3451 |