New study tries to explain why "women read true crime"

Why do women read true crime? Well, men read it too, but mostly it's women who go for it. This is true of virtually everything, but a new study (available online for free for a limited time) sets about proving that women read and enjoy them more and asks that old question: Why?

Unfortunately, the authors begin their supposedly scientific work with a goofy fallacy. They claim that true crime has become extraordinarly popular "since the publication of In Cold Blood." That is ridiculous. True crime has been extraordinarily popular in English for at least 500 years.

Setting aside this absurd beginning, the study has some interesting things to say. This paper points out that women read true crime to:

1) Learn the motives and methods of murderers and to prevent becoming victims; some books contain defense tactics and escape tricks. The Stranger Beside Me is cited. I think this is true, at least for younger readers.

2) Learn about the psychology of violence and understand the warning signs. (This is true, too. As Diane Fanning wrote in her latest, Mommy's LIttle Girl: "We want to know why, because until we do, we cannot do anything to prevent it from happening again to another child. We have to believe there is a way to prevent such a death, or we slide into an endless pit of despair. Our only hope is knowledge, awareness of the red flags that portend disaster and an ability to recognize the warnings in real time.")

This study was fascinating but I was a bit disappointed. It contains a lot of assumptions about women and a lot of assumptions about this genre.

The true crime genre is vast. It is older than the printing press. It has had many a heyday.

It also has many discrete sub-genres. Fans are very specific in their reading tastes. The reader who snatches up the latest biography of Al Capone does not reach for the latest Ann Rule. Some eschew serial killer books, or outgrow them.

Speaking for myself, I'll happily plunk down $7 cash for any spousal murder story, but you'll have trouble getting me to read even a free book about a big heist. What strongly appeals to one true crime fan is  snubbed by the next.

This study also does not attempt to explain the popularity of Snapped or the enduring fascination with such anti-heroines as Belle Gunness or Lizzie Borden.

Bottom line: True crime is older than some experts think and it's too big for generalizations.

Comments

[Robert Wilhelm]

As a male reader of true crime books I did not find this study convincing or very useful. Yes, women seem to be drawn to true crime books more than men but I still don’t know why. I think the questions themselves skewed the results. Regardless of the statistics, I find it hard to believe that anyone ever read a murder book as an instruction for avoiding murder.

The point they missed is that a crime book is not about the crime itself. It’s not about the gory details; it is about the events that led to the crime and what happened as a result. Most importantly it is about the people involved. A good true crime book has the same attributes as a good fictional mystery except, because it is true, it is less predictable.

[Judy Lewin]

I am writing a true crime story and would never in a million years guess a woman would read my book to find out how to avoid murder. This is just a guess, but women maybe sleuths by nature - but we want to read about it or study it. We ask the questions and are not satisfied until we get answers! I agree with Robert, the questions skewed the resultx.

[MCM]

Why do women read true crime?
Because we can!

[Undine]

Speaking as a female true crime reader, I can only say this study hardly applies to me. My main interest in the genre lies in the cases that are unsolved--or, at least, have a lot of unanswered questions. I suppose I'm just a frustrated Dupin wanna-be at heart.

I'm also interested in cases that reveal particular historical or psychological insights--some TC writer (was it Edmund Pearson?) once made some comment to the effect that certain crimes provide a unique sociological snapshot, and that's certainly the case. Some of the older crime stories provide you with historical insights you just can't get anywhere else.

[Kelly Banaski-Sons]

I must be the wierdest true crime reader of all.Not only will I read every true crime book I come across but I will most definetly read a mob book and turn right around and pick up Ann Rule's latest. Nor do I read them for the survival tips. I read them because the criminal mind fascinates me. I dont know how much more simple to put it.