True Crime: Lunesta for Women
Have you ever noticed the women in your life will relax with a glass of wine and a true crime documentary? Well more and more the popularity of the genre is growing. Spotify recorded an increase in the amount of listeners by 16% among female listeners from 2018–2019. And with more content streaming every day the true crime fanatic in your life can get their fix easily.
But why? Why are women so drawn to this genre? Social psychologist Amanda Vicary who is the associate professor of psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University, who specializes in “women’s attraction to crime and criminals,” has discovered that even on a subconscious level women will watch to learn. They will watch whatever the victims in the case did and take away what NOT to do. This may be something as simple as always telling a friend your plans for the day, like in the Chris Watts case, or not sitting in your car for long periods like with Son of Sam or the Zodiac Killer.
There is also the theory that for many women watching true crime is facing their fears head-on, and by confronting the monster they are no longer afraid. For many knowledge is power and facing the fear of what is the worst-case scenario helps some feel comforted that they now know how to escape or prevent the same thing from happening to them.
Naturally many women also feel drawn to the victims. Now I am not denying there is a certain set that feels connected to the killer, but the majority can sympathize with the victim. Most women can name a time when a man was either verbally or physically aggressive with them and for this reason, we can put ourselves even temporarily in the woman’s shoes. What if it was us in that bar? What if it was us that offered help to someone who looked hurt? All those thoughts that go through your head when watching a documentary.
And as strange as it may seem true crime is a form of escapism. It is another world where the bad guy is caught and goes to jail, and the system; for all intents and purposes did its job. This is the world many of us want to see but know not to be true. This escape and deep dive into the macabre and gruesome is also something many find comfort in.
