Many of us have childhood memories of sitting around in a circle, taking turns to narrate a scary story. These highly engaging mysteries were often discussed in groups for their shock value, and sometimes, even in exchange of popularity. The same plot lines and characters may not necessarily seem impressive to us anymore, but the adrenaline rush and that hooking what-happens-next feeling they bring with them remains relevant. We may not be kids around a campfire today, but we surely are using technology to stream shows, movies and podcasts based around true crime. Documentary series like Michigan Murders and The Keepers have gained immense popularity on OTT platforms, as have Spotify podcasts like Casefile and Serial Killers. But interestingly, it looks like it’s the women who can’t switch them off.
One particular study, led by Amanda Vicary—a crime psychology expert, associate psychology professor at Illinois Wesleyan University and a self-confessed ‘true crime addict’ herself—showed that the number of women interested in the genre of true crime increased by 16 per cent in 2019. Another survey conducted by ABC revealed that the surge in popularity that true crime podcasts were experiencing was due to a growing appetite among women too. In fact, one popular true crime podcast, called Wine and Crime, reported that they get half a million downloads each month, but a staggering 85 per cent of their audience is female.
To dig deeper into the topic, we took cues from Vicary’s study and spoke to Mumbai-based psychotherapist and counsellor, Rhea Gandhi for more insights.
True crime content helps women understand a criminal’s mindset, and promotes a sense of justice
More often than not, true crime stories—whether in the form of books, podcasts, movies or shows—spotlight details on the thought processes of criminals. Vicary found that even though women fear becoming victims of a crime, they’re interested in the genre because it helps them understand how a crime is perpetrated. What triggered the attacker? How did the victim fall into the trap? What techniques did the victim use to escape? Vicary suggests that while consuming this content, women subconsciously absorb information on coping with horrific situations, and tricks to recognise tell-tale signs which could cause lead to violence.
Gandhi, on the other hand, focuses more on one particular feeling—of justice. “In reality, women are often the victims or survivors of crime, rather than perpetrators. Perhaps we are drawn to this genre in search of a sense of justice,” she postulates. “As women living in a deeply patriarchal society, feeling unsafe and frightened is almost a constant state of mind, and perhaps, our deep desire to feel safe and protected by legal systems is sublimated when we watch stories where justice prevails. That sense of justice we feel at the end of a true crime film or series reflects our desire to be a part of social and legal systems that work tirelessly towards women’s safety and protection.”
It can also directly impact women’s behaviours, and help them pick up survival techniques
According to Vicary, women have claimed that consuming true crime content led to a conscious change in behaviour to ensure safety. For instance, double-checking door locks and carrying mace and pepper sprays is more common now than ever before. She suggests that women are enacting tips and tricks that they observe during shows, without realising that it’s their very need to protect themselves that could be drawing them to the genre. Interestingly, Gandhi vocalises the opinion that apart from this, women indulging in this genre doesn’t really change anything in their reality. “I only view it as a space that offers some psychic relief,” she says.
Discomfort and fear doesn’t deter women from finishing a true crime story
While studying the reactions of men and women towards a true crime podcast, Vicary found that while both sexes reacted with fear at certain points, it was the female listeners who showcased higher levels of anxiety than men. However, their will to continue with the content remained affected. This need to know what happens next, and subconsciously reading between the lines, overpowered the discomfort and negative feelings of watching listening to distressing content. The final observation: women are willing to go through discomfort and fear to get their true crime fix.
With studies hinting that women are more than ready to spend a few sleepless nights reading, watching and listening to true crime stories, we decided to list some out for those who are looking for a cure to the itch. Here's where you should start your true crime binge.
Podcast: Serial Killers, available on Spotify
Documentary series: The Keepers, available on Netflix
Book: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Also read:
Love true crime documentaries? You can’t miss these Netflix shows
12 chilling true crime shows and movies that won't let you sleep at night
The scariest psychological thrillers you need to catch up on this weekend
