Extreme Forms of Violence against Women in Europe. Femi(ni)cide in Germany

Abstract

In the modern world, human rights enjoy greater legitimacy, and the discourse of equality between sexes has acquired enough plausibility to be introduced in the form of institutionalized political practices. Even so, old and new forms of gender-based violence are occurring and even increasing worldwide. Gender-based violence occurs in all societies but many of its forms are still not explicitly addressed by European law and policy, this is the case with femi(ni)cide (femicide/feminicide). In this dissertation, I follow the feminist argument that maintains that if femi(ni)cide is not named, it is not because it does not exist, but it is necessary to name it in order to make it visible and create interventions against these crimes. Therefore, I work with the concept of femi(ni)cide for legal and political analysis, I argue that this concept is noteworthy to feminist theory, politics, and activism.

My main research question in this article-based dissertation is: What is the performance of the concept of femi(ni)cide in political and legal spheres in the context of Europe? I am focusing on the birthplace region of modernity, Western Europe, where the legal, political, and academic discussion on femi(ni)cide is still limited. I work with a case study: femi(ni)cide in Germany. This research is informed by two main theoretical approaches: new feminist materialism and epistemologies of the South—in particular, in decolonial theory. I use both frameworks to try to contest Western, patriarchal, and colonial attitudes towards the discussion of femi(ni)cide in Europe. Some of the findings of this dissertation point out that colonial structures continue to permeate femi(ni)cide research in Europe and, that there is a danger of watering down the complexity of the concept of femi(ni)cide, thus draining it from its political power. Therefore, working with both, epistemologies of the South and new feminist materialism, provides tools to avoid reproducing colonial and patriarchal hierarchies while allowing one to work “with-in” complexity. With this dissertation I aim to contribute filling the academic gap on femi(ni)cide in Western Europe, to encourage further research on this matter, and to provide useful information for organizations dedicated to combat violence against women/gender-based violence.