True Crime Obsession

BY REACE DEDON

ART BY SERENA Y. CHENG

Does enjoying true crime entertainment make us bad people? This is a question some may have been pondering in lieu of the recent surge in true crime entertainment. As the numbers of true crime fans rise, the demographic of female fans becomes more obvious. What could be so enthralling about hearing your worst nightmare victimizing another? The answer is more complicated than it may seem.

Spotify’s 2022 data revealed that seventy percent of true crime podcast listeners were women. Psychological theorists such as Dr. Sharon Packer, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, have suggested that women feel more strongly about these stories due to their greater capabilities of empathy compared to men, thus becoming more invested. Dr. Packer proposes that women associate true crime with a “dress rehearsal” of sorts, seeing as most of the victims are women. This, of course, is relative to the understanding of gender-based studies, and it does not work as a blanket statement as gender is not binary. The data, however, does tell us that gender in to “Unsolved Mysteries,” “Dateline” and “20/20” weekly for years. They warned us as children the same way we warn our peers now with safety tips like, “Make only right turns if you think you’re being followed, scream ‘fire,’ not ‘help’ and tell at least one other person where you will be on a date.” Our imminent danger has always been a concern, but the retelling of these tragedies by people not related to the victims for monetary gain often feels insensitive. Several of the most popular podcasts, like “Crime Junkie,” are criticized for recklessly spreading false information about crimes and profiting off of stories many families are still grieving over.

While listeners of true crime often feel safer by listening to these stories, it’s important to consume mindfully. When searching for true crime content, it’s best to subscribe to podcasts that don’t sensationalize. Instead, look for those that rely on primary sources, speak respectfully, and donate to related charities. It’s also important that we, as consumers, understand how unspoken social contracts impact the acts of crime and its consumption. Often, predators count on the fact that women are more likely to feel obligated to assist a stranger in need for fear of being assumed rude. They may also feel safer engaging readily with a stranger since rejection can also fuel violence. The majority of crimes against women are perpetrated by someone familiar to the victim, and the social obligations women feel towards family and peers in these instances are ever further strained. As consumers, we must question our motives. While the pool of women whose obsession is fueled by internalized misogyny is small, no woman is immune to its effects outside of the true crime community.

Despite any amount of soul-searching and therapy one might receive, the expectations of female behavior in today’s society often feels like an immovable weight. Just as women must look out for themselves, they must look out for others. There are victims and survivors all around us. The implications of true crime as an entertainment medium may make these instances feel distant and escapable, even. While there is no shame in consuming true crime, it’s important to maintain your ethical responsibility and to do so with reverence.