General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I'm getting a sinking feeling about these shootings [View all]Whiskeytide
(4,461 posts)... the investigative process for serial killers more than a societal defect based on misogyny, I suspect. The people trying to catch them have to get inside their minds. The media reporting on the investigation naturally echos that approach, and the mind of the serial killer becomes a big part of the story.
The victims also have to be looked at for their commonality, which tends to homogenize them to a great extent. I dont think they are afterthoughts as much as they are classified by type to help investigators track the killer down. It does dehumanize victims by processing out their individuality, but its more a part of the process than its goal.
And Im not saying what youve said is necessarily wrong, but only that it might not be the whole story. Serial killers are a different breed. They are not driven by the usual motivations we think of with respect to killing their victims. But their MO usually fits a narrative that can be used to catch them if we understand them better. The fact that the killers were "charming", "intelligent" or 'troubled" isnt a compliment - its their profile.