Characteristics of Intimate Partner Homicide in China: Gender Differences in the Context of Marriage Squeeze

Abstract

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) demonstrates significant gender-based differences in perpetrator characteristics, underscoring the need for gender-responsive prevention and intervention strategies. Despite this, research offering systematic comparisons of male and female IPH perpetrators within a single national sample remains scarce, particularly beyond Western settings. This study examines 1,029 IPH cases, including 711 male and 318 female perpetrators, drawn from Chinese criminal judgments between 2016 and 2024. Guided by the Social Ecological Model, the analysis incorporates variables at the individual, relational, and structural levels. To explain gendered patterns in IPH, the study employs the Generalized Weighted Availability Ratio (GWAR), an age- and sex specific indicator of marriage market pressure. The study identifies clear gender differences in IPH cases. Male-perpetrated homicides are often linked to infidelity or separation and are more prevalent in regions with high GWAR, reflecting increased marital competition. Female-perpetrated IPH is strongly associated with histories of intimate partner violence (IPV). In areas with high GWAR, women tend to have higher educational levels, which appears to mitigate IPV-related killings. By framing IPH within a structural-demographic context, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the gender-specific mechanisms through which marriage squeeze can influence extreme forms of partner violence. The implications of these findings are especially pertinent for the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies in China and may also inform policy responses in other societies experiencing severe gender imbalances.