SouthEastSleuth
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2005
- Messages
- 465
- Reaction score
- 0
As we've discussed several times before, the rates of homicides involving pregnant women are startling, to say the least. There's a very interesting article in today's Raleigh News and Observer about this alarming fact (certainly worth the read as you think about Janet's murder).
Here are some excerpts (link to entire article at bottom of post):
- Researchers in Maryland...found that homicide was the leading cause of death among pregnant women, based on a study of 247 cases from 1993-1998. (The study found that 20% of the deaths were by homicide.)
- "It is not clear why pregnant women are more at risk. Some researchers say the vulnerability of the pregnant women might provoke abuse by a partner.."
- "A Washington Post analysis of the problem in 2004 identified 1,367 murders of pregnant women since 1990, though more than a dozen states that didn't track maternal status were excluded from the tally. The Post chose to examine 2002 cases more closely and found that, in about 2/3 of those cases, the motive for the slaying had to do with the pregnancy."
- (in some cases)...."The pregnancy itself seems to provoke violence."
- "During a pregnancy, the woman tends to take care of herself and starts doing her own thinking.......For a batterer, he's bound to feel less powerful. He'll strike."
- "On the flip side, the woman could be in danger, too, if she appears fragile and weak. The abuser will see this as a chance to take control by lashing out. Of course, pregnancy brings stresses of its own: financial strain, exhaustion, concern over the child's future. It's also a time when the mother might feel less empowered to leave. She wants a father for the baby and might need the financial help."
- "All told, about 6% of pregnant women say they endured slaps, kicks, or shoves while pregnant, according to a survey of more than 1, 500 NC women in 2004..."
- "We have a myth and fairy tale that this is a time when everyone's joyous....But for some families, it's a vulnerable, scary time."
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/515742.html
Here are some excerpts (link to entire article at bottom of post):
- Researchers in Maryland...found that homicide was the leading cause of death among pregnant women, based on a study of 247 cases from 1993-1998. (The study found that 20% of the deaths were by homicide.)
- "It is not clear why pregnant women are more at risk. Some researchers say the vulnerability of the pregnant women might provoke abuse by a partner.."
- "A Washington Post analysis of the problem in 2004 identified 1,367 murders of pregnant women since 1990, though more than a dozen states that didn't track maternal status were excluded from the tally. The Post chose to examine 2002 cases more closely and found that, in about 2/3 of those cases, the motive for the slaying had to do with the pregnancy."
- (in some cases)...."The pregnancy itself seems to provoke violence."
- "During a pregnancy, the woman tends to take care of herself and starts doing her own thinking.......For a batterer, he's bound to feel less powerful. He'll strike."
- "On the flip side, the woman could be in danger, too, if she appears fragile and weak. The abuser will see this as a chance to take control by lashing out. Of course, pregnancy brings stresses of its own: financial strain, exhaustion, concern over the child's future. It's also a time when the mother might feel less empowered to leave. She wants a father for the baby and might need the financial help."
- "All told, about 6% of pregnant women say they endured slaps, kicks, or shoves while pregnant, according to a survey of more than 1, 500 NC women in 2004..."
- "We have a myth and fairy tale that this is a time when everyone's joyous....But for some families, it's a vulnerable, scary time."
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/515742.html