Gender Disparities and Socioeconomic Triggers in Filicide-Suicide—An Analysis of Media Portrayals
Gender and Socioeconomic Factors in Filicide-Suicide
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51846/jucmd.v4iS.3624Abstract
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.
Downloads
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Zainab Pervaiz, Dr. Maryam Ayub, Nazish Imran
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository, in a journal or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process.
