Pathways to maternal filicide among women incarcerated in Gauteng province in South Africa

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.