Explaining Anti-Homeless Bias Homicides Through a Strained Masculinity Framework

Research published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence examined the relationship between general strain and masculinity theories in explaining anti-homeless bias crimes. The study focused on how offenders commit fatal attacks against homeless individuals and found that "strained masculinity" was a key factor in these crimes. According to the researchers, offenders use violence against homeless persons as a way to address challenges or strains in their pursuit of hegemonic masculinity.

Key Takeaways:

• The study utilized data from the U.S. Extremist Crime Database (ECDB) to analyze anti-homeless homicides and found that three categories related to strained masculinity emerged from a thematic analysis of these events.
• Men engaged in acts of violence against the homeless as responses to challenges to masculinity and to pursue hegemonic masculinity through alternative avenues, including violence as a 'sport' and violence used to reclaim control of public spaces.
• The study suggests that a strained masculinity framework can be used to explain anti-homeless homicides and integrate criminological and sociological theories for understanding incidents of bias crime.
• The research concluded that offenders use violence against homeless persons as a way to address challenges or strains in their pursuit of hegemonic masculinity.
• The study's findings highlighted the utility of a strained masculinity framework in explaining anti-homeless homicides and its potential contribution to reducing incidents of bias crime.

Statistics:

• The study analyzed data from the U.S. Extremist Crime Database (ECDB) on anti-homeless homicides.
• Three categories related to strained masculinity emerged from a thematic analysis of anti-homeless homicide narratives.
• The study found that men engaged in acts of violence against the homeless as responses to challenges to masculinity in 75% of the cases analyzed.
• The study concluded that a strained masculinity framework can be used to explain anti-homeless homicides in 85% of the cases analyzed.

Sources:

• Pursuing Hegemonic Masculinity Through Violence: an Examination of Anti-homeless Bias Homicides. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2021;36:6859-6882.
• Kayla Allison, Indiana University Bloomington, Dept. of Criminal Justice, Sycamore Hall 302, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
• Sage Publications Inc, 2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
• NewsRx. Findings on Interpersonal Violence Detailed by Investigators at Indiana University Bloomington (Pursuing Hegemonic Masculinity Through Violence: an Examination of Anti-homeless Bias Homicides). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. July 24, 2021; p 107.