Herstories Unseen: Crimes and the Forgotten Victims

WC Blogpost by: K.U.V.

To say Dr. Sowande Mustakeem's "Women and Crime" class is a must-take is an understatement. This riveting course delves into the nuances of various herstories in American history in the context of women and crime as it relates to race, ethnicity, class, and various historical eras. This discussion-based course offers an intimate environment where I can express my thoughts and dissect each passage that is assigned. I particularly enjoy how every student has a different background and subsequently comes into each class discussion with unique experiences; it makes for enthralling discussions. Conversations about crimes that have occurred in St. Louis become more tangible and meaningful when conducted with students who hail from the city. 

As we delve deeper into herstories, I find myself captivated by the narratives of women who have committed crimes and those who have been victims of crimes; it intrigues me to observe the evolving discourse and perception surrounding these stories over time. Throughout history, women have never been the primary focus of storytelling, especially in the context of crime. Taking this class in 2023 allows me to examine the ways in which women involved in any crime–whether victim, aggravator, or criminal–are portrayed to the public and compare those events to our even now imperfect judicial system. I am also eager to learn how our carceral state has dealt with women and crime and stories that have been forgotten through the ages. 

Throughout history, women have been burdened with labels and forced into predefined categories assumed by males and expected to conform to them. As evidenced by historical events such as the Salem Witch Trials and the emergence of female Asylums in the second half of the 19th century, women have been punished and prosecuted for behaving in ways perceived as deviating from the perspective of normalcy. As I come into this class, I have a preconceived notion that, unlike men who commit crimes for a multitude of reasons, women tend to predominantly commit crimes rooted in passionate impulses or in response to societal pressures; whether I continue to hold this belief by the end of the semester is yet to be determined. Throughout this course, I want to explore a slew of queries. Is there a common reason that leads women to commit crimes? How have women criminals been perceived throughout history? What makes a story stand the test of time? How does race play into the persecution of female criminals? How has the carceral state evolved in the ways they prosecute female criminals?

In most articles I have read that cover women criminals spanning across various historical periods, I have noticed a consistent pattern where women are more likely to be regarded as mentally insane or unstable rather than be regarded on an equal footing with male criminals. I am particularly interested in the late 19th century with the emergence of women admitted to insane asylums. Katherine Pouba and Ashley Tianen published a fascinating article that delves into the placement of women in mental asylums during the late 19th century. Their journal discusses how men dictated women's placement into mental asylums to reaffirm their concrete beliefs that women should act a certain way. 

Too many women were, and still are, seen as second-class citizens to men.

 They were placed into docile caregiver roles, and anything they did differently would deviate from societal norms, causing them to be labeled as mentally unstable. Cases such as depression, epilepsy, and delayed menstruation would falsely place women into insane asylums. Women--their impulses, emotions, bodies, and needs--have long been misunderstood; hence, female criminals have often been subject to misconceptions and a lack of comprehensive documentation. I have observed that there is a greater tendency to explain their motives in recent years when perusing articles about female criminals. However, articles that date back even 20 years ago often fail to dive into the psychology of the women who have committed these crimes. Historically, women have been seen as second-class citizens; depending on race, some were even regarded as property. It makes me wonder how this plays into the mental psyche of female criminals. What about female victims? These are all queries I hope to explore throughout the semester.

The article "She Must Go and Shall Go Overboard," by Dr. Sowande’ Mustakeem, notably sticks out in my mind as it analyzes the psychology of both the crew/captain and the African American enslaved woman who was thrown overboard due to sickness during the Atlantic Slave Trade. The Transatlantic Slave Trade was a breeding ground for illness and disease; mumps, scurvy, syphilis, measles, and smallpox contributed to mass deaths during many voyages due to the cramped and unhygienic environment many were forced into enduring. Rather than focusing on James De'Wolf and his court proceedings, as is typically done in historical stories such as this one, the article focuses on the enslaved woman who was tossed off the ship by the crew and captain. The enslaved woman had contracted smallpox aboard the ship Polly and thus was placed into quarantine. Slave trader James DeWolf was frantically trying to find a resolution to the issue and prevent monetary loss and had decided that throwing the woman off the ship was the best option. To him, this woman was nothing more than property and a threat to his other "property," as enslaved people were priced based on their health. He tied an already overpowering fear of insurrection and smallpox to coerce his crew to spring into action and take his side. The passage uses the word "premeditated murder" to describe this incident, which holds significance as enslaved people were often not even seen as people. When reading about the murder of enslaved people, it is often not even referred to as murder. The passage stated that none of the crew members argued with D'Wolf, but some stated they "wanted nothing to do with it." Nobody revolting against De'Wolf's proposal to throw this woman overboard demonstrates the insignificance of this woman's life to those men. The passage states that once this woman was thrown offboard, she was "figuratively erased from the history of the Atlantic Slave Trade." It makes me wonder how many other atrocious acts were committed against those not considered worthy enough to document on paper and how that shaped different historical events involving women and people of color. Additionally, the woman who was thrown off the ship was referred to as "the unnamed slave woman," which speaks volumes about how African-American women were treated and viewed during the era of slavery. 

What makes this passage different than other documents discussing slavery that I have read before is how it imagines what the murderers did after they threw the woman off the ship: "Did they watch her struggle in the water as the ship sailed away or perhaps walk to another part of the vessel to dismiss the ensuing events." This sheds some humanity on the whole situation; it makes you wonder whether they were personally affected by the blood on their hands. Further, when the enslaved woman was thrown off board, she was physically restricted and blindfolded. The passage compares haphazardly throwing someone overboard to the ritual-like event of restricting their vision and mobility. It makes me wonder what was going through their heads and if they gained pleasure from the suffering of the enslaved woman. I can imagine this was a way for D'Wolfe to prove to his crew and himself that he still had control; it symbolizes power. The passage ends by examining how the woman thrown off the ship felt the moments leading up to her being thrown off the ship to when she was strapped to the chair in the ocean. It makes me think of how, when reading about crimes and tragedies, we often neglect to reflect on the actual victims and what was going through their heads--what goes through their minds as horrific events unfolded. As a society, we have become so accustomed to reading about horrific events through historical papers, news headlines, and television that we have become numb to the victims too often. When we read about a murder, we often focus on the murderer, not what the victim was experiencing leading up to their death. We have become too accustomed to neglecting the mental states of the victims once they have passed away. 

I noticed this even while watching the Columbo episode, “Try and Catch Me”; I was so focused on the murderer/murderess and her motive that I forgot to envision what it was like for the man as he slowly starved to death. It became evident that our focus on the murderer and their motive often overshadows the profound suffering endured by the victim. Take the case of Charles Manson; he dominates the media, but what about his victims? I seldom hear about them or consider their experiences. Further, this observation led me to reflect on a discussion in one of my current classes, where we explored why certain tragedies take precedence in our collective memory and dominate the media. Examples like the Maui Wildfires and the Ukrainian/Russian war revealed that graphic images and mass destruction tend to command our attention. This discrepancy in recognition extends to the realm of crime throughout history, with crimes involving women often receiving less recognition and esteem than those involving men. Crimes involving women have historically been understated, lacking visual evidence to back them up. It raises important questions about societal perceptions and the narratives we prioritize in our understanding of both crime and tragedy. Suffering tends to be overlooked or neglected, especially when lacking visual or auditory components.

I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to explore lesser-known herstories and crimes that have faded from historical memory. I am particularly enthusiastic about delving into the psychological motivations behind women's involvement in criminal activities. As I aspire to become a future criminal justice attorney, I anticipate gaining invaluable insights and knowledge from this course to further my career goals.