Between 1989 and 1990, The Florida Highway Killer made a name for itself. However, not in the way we as a western society are acclimated to, as statistically speaking the majority of serial killers are men. However, in this particular scenario, this serial murderer was a woman—a woman we better know as Aileen Wuornos. Wuornos is not only an outlier in her homicidal nature, but also within the specks of her own life. Yet, within the span of roughly a year, she was able to place her name down in print as one of history’s most notorious serial killers. This case study aims to delve into Aileen’s tumultuous and disturbing past while attempting to build a narrative explaining why she killed seven men in such a short amount of time. Additionally, …show more content…
Sociologically speaking, Aileen’s case further flushes out understanding her purpose and rationale for committing her crimes. It is suggested in sociological theories that “violence is a product of structural and cultural factors that influence the behavior of individuals and groups” (Alvarez & Bachman). Furthermore, this theory breaks down into two subdivisions—macro theory and micro theory. Macro is one’s overarching societal component. For Aileen, she did grow up in an impoverished home, where her finances were scant. Furthermore, she also was punished simply for being a woman—she was targeted as an easy object because she is of the ‘weaker sex.’ Because of these elements, on a higher level, she was already at a predisposed disadvantage. Moreover, on a micro level, which discusses ones’ personal components, for Aileen, we know for a fact that she was completely discarded by all those around her and abused endlessly throughout her whole life. Upon her murdering these men, it was not only her changing how she felt on the inside, but also attempting to alter the external situation around her—seeking to create a new reality for