This is the original Bullyonline website developed by the late Tim Field. It is provided as a testament to his pioneering work. Visit our new website.

Female violence

Over the last century, women have fought for equality with men. From Emily Davison's suicidal gesture, much has been achieved.

Whilst it is often thought that women have always been secondary to men, oppression of women only began in earnest nearly two thousand years ago with ruthless suppression by the Roman Catholic Church. Only now are women reclaiming their rightful place in society.

Whilst many women still find a glass ceiling barring career progression, and people (mostly men) still debate whether females are really up to the job, one of Britain's most successful females goes unnoticed. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne of England for nearly 50 years.

If women really are equal to men, then we should see equality in the less pleasant aspects of behaviour. Whilst the general impression is that males are violent whilst females are kind, caring and nurturing, equality means that we should see an equivalent percentage of violent females and an equivalent percentage of kind, caring, nurturing males. When you look beyond the stereotypes, this is what we see.

In general, females tend to be more intelligent than males and thus their methods are less obvious. Stereotyping also prevents us from seeing the female as a potentially violent individual. However, there is one significant difference between male violence and female violence, and this is in the way females express their violence. Whilst males tend to express their violence by physical means and through the committing of criminal offences, females tend to express their violence through psychological means and through the committing of non-arrestable offences. Also, the violent female is likely to coerce a willing male to commit her violence for her - and take the rap if caught. And if caught, the kind, caring, nurturing female couldn't possibly be guilty, for she wouldn't hurt a fly, would she?

Females can be just as violent and ruthless as their male counterparts. When male Mafia bosses are caught and imprisoned, and there are no male family members available to take over, the females in the family assume the role.

Whilst the number of murders committed by females is considerably less than murders committed by males, the female is likely to be more subtle and thus less likely to be detected. Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy (MSBP) is a good example.

Female serial bullies are, in general, much more dangerous than their male counterparts. Statistics from the UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line and Bully OnLine reveal that at least 50% of over 6000 cases involve a female serial bully. The top four sectors for cases are teaching, nursing, social services, and the voluntary / not-for-profit sector, in which there is a higher percentage of female managers. Serial bullies, male or female, can be recognised by their behaviour profile.

CIA job opportunity for violent female.

Suggested reading

When she was bad: how women get away with murder, a controversial and explosive look at female aggression, Patricia Pearson, 1998, Virago Press, ISBN 1-86049-488-9

Where now at Related Issues?

Violence, rage, abuse, discrimination and issues related to bullying

Related Issues Home Page

Bullying by neighbours | Bullying by landlords

Bullying by the church | Bullying and cults | Bullying and prisons

Bullying and whistleblowing | Bullying and stammering

Bullying and age discrimination | Bullying and long hours

Bullying and minorities | Bullying of gays and lesbians

Transsexuals and bullying | Bullying and disfigurement

Bullying and adoption | Bullying and eating disorders

Bullying and racism | Bullying because you're seen as overweight or fat

The cost of drugs and alcohol at work | Corporate bullying and fad-speak

Working from home | Management consultants

Bullying and business ethics | Toxic management | Bullying and fat cats

Bullying and call centres | Bullying and snooping

Cyberbullying, emails and the Internet

Abusive telephone calls | Bullying and mobile phones

Health and safety | The welfare officer

Domestic violence | A serial bully in the family | Female violence

Bullying and anger | Road rage, office rage | Verbal violence

Violence | Gun violence | Spree killings

Bullying and abuse | Sexual abuse | Drug rape | Stalking

Bullying in the movies | Trauma and the paranormal

Home Pages

The Field Foundation | Bully OnLine

Workplace bullying | School bullying | Family bullying

Bullying news | Bullying case histories

Bullying resources | Press and media centre

Stress, PTSD and psychiatric injury

Action to tackle bullying | Related issues

Success Unlimited

Books on bullying and related issues