Title
Black Widows: Battered Mothers Who Kill
Abstract
The following paper examines battered mothers who kill their abusers. Through
estimation, we find that this population is made up of 16,000 women who are presently
incarcerated in the United States. Research examines the cases of Artiesha Love and
Natalie Pollard, two mothers in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area who allegedly murdered
their abusers. Through media analysis of over 15 sources, it is clear that the media lacks
an understanding of domestic violence in the cases of battered mothers who kill. Turning
to existing research, it is clear that very little research has been done around the role of
motherhood. Of the literature examined, no previous research has done to make sense of
how motherhood might affect a woman’s decision to kill or not kill her abuser. There is
hope when it comes to case studies such as the Sin by Silence bills and documentary in
California, and the #SayHerName component of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The
issue of battered mothers who kill their abusers intersects with police brutality, racial
disparities, and the criminalization of people of color and the movement to end domestic
violence.
Suggested Citation
Klyman, Jay.
(2016).
Black Widows: Battered Mothers Who Kill.
Retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy,
https://hdl.handle.net/11299/181428.