The Southport Attack and the Troubling Phenomenon of Femicide
On the 6th of Dec 1989, a 25 year old man armed with a rifle and a hunting knife, walked into an engineering lecture at a college in the Canadian city of Montreal. He then proceeded to separate the men from the women, asked the men to leave before opening fire on the female students killing many. He then continued to hunt for female students across the campus, eventually killing 14 and injuring many more, before shooting himself dead. During this incident the attacker, Marc Lepine, claimed he was fighting feminism and blamed women for ruining his life.
On the 2nd of November 2018, a 40 year old man entered a hot yoga studio in the Floridian city of Tallahassee, and shot 6 women. He managed to kill 2 of them before killing himself with his own pistol. The attacker, a military veteran and former teacher called Scott Beierle, was known for harbouring grievances against women and ethnic minorities. He seemed to despise inter-racial marriages in particular.
On the 29th of July 2024, a 17 year old male entered a Taylor Swift themed dance class in the British city of Southport armed with a knife. He then proceeded the stab the young girls in attendance, managing to kill 3 and injuring many others before being stopped. The attacker, Axel Rudakubana, was recently sentenced to 52 years in prison and during his arrest he stated that he was proud of his actions and glad the girls are dead.
In all of the above attacks, and in many more in recent years, women and girls have been the target of lethal violence inflicted by troubled men. This phenomenon is known as femicide and it is one of the most egregious manifestations of gender-based violence. Femicide often stems from anger at feminism, sexual frustration, feelings of inadequacy, and a desire to shock society and send out a message, demonstrating a troubling intersection of personal grievances and societal misogyny.
The actions of Elliot Rodger in Isla Vista, California, in 2014 offer a chilling insight into the explicit targeting of women. Rodger, who killed six people and injured fourteen, left behind a manifesto filled with vitriol against women who he felt had rejected him romantically and sexually. His rampage was fuelled by a desire to punish women for what he perceived as personal injustices, exacerbated by toxic online subcultures that glorify violence against women. In subsequent years, Rodger became a hero in online incel communities amongst men who share his sense of resentment against modern women and feel left behind by societal changes that empower women.
Sexual frustration is another common thread among perpetrators of gender-based mass violence. Involuntary celibate, or incel, subcultures online foster resentment towards women, portraying them as gatekeepers of sex and relationships who deliberately exclude certain men. These forums amplify feelings of inadequacy and entitlement, encouraging members to view women as the enemy. Rodger’s rampage was a direct result of this ideology, as he expressed rage at women who had not fulfilled his romantic and sexual desires, leading him to commit horrific acts of violence.
Feelings of inadequacy also drive some men to target women in an attempt to exert dominance and masculinity. Many attackers feel powerless in their personal lives and use violence as a way to reclaim control and assert their perceived superiority over women. This need to prove masculinity through violence is often rooted in patriarchal expectations that equate manhood with power and dominance. When these expectations are unmet, some men resort to violence as a way of compensating for their insecurities.
Finally, acts of mass violence targeting women often seek to create shock value and instil fear. By targeting women in public spaces, attackers aim to send a message not just to their immediate victims but to society at large, reinforcing the notion that women are not safe. This was evident in the Southport Attack, where the choice of a women’s community centre served as a symbolic assault on spaces that are meant to be safe for girls.
Addressing the root causes of femicide and gender-based terror requires a multifaceted approach. Education is a critical starting point, with schools and communities teaching young people about gender equality, healthy relationships, and the dangers of misogyny. Technology platforms must also take stronger action to not promote extremist misogynist content via algorithms designed to increase engagement at any cost. Governments and police forces must also seek to gain a better understanding of the psychology of such attackers and the tell tale signs that can be used to prevent such attacks.
More broadly, societal attitudes towards masculinity must evolve and men must be encouraged to challenge traditional notions of masculinity that equate power and dominance with self-worth. Providing support for men struggling with feelings of inadequacy or frustration can help prevent them from turning to violence as an outlet. This would involve confronting the insular and atomised nature of modern societies which allow malicious online content and toxic notions of male power to exploit those who feel an acute sense of isolation and disenfranchisement.
Mass casualty attacks in which women and girls are the target, reveal the horrifying consequences of unchecked misogyny and the intersection of personal grievances with societal sexism. By understanding the motivations behind these acts and addressing their root causes, societies can start taking meaningful steps towards preventing future tragedies and creating a safer world for all.