Aileen Wuornos is often compared to Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer in terms of the heinous nature of their crimes. That’s because of cultural misogyny, victim-blaming, and legitimate hatred of women.

Howdy gals and pals, first time poster (throwaway) long time lurker.

For those unfamiliar with her, Aileen Wuornos is a woman who was convicted of murdering 7 of her johns. She was executed in 2002. She said they’d either raped or attempted to rape her and she’d shot them in self defense, which the court didn’t believe. The media painted and continues to paint her as a cold, calculating killer who murdered for money.

First of all, I don’t think it’s that unreasonable to say that 7 of her johns tried to rape her. We all know how dangerous the type of man who solicits sex workers is and how prevalent violence against sex workers is as a result. I’m continually baffled by people saying that’s too often to be true. I’m not a sex worker but I’ve been raped 5 separate times by different, unrelated men!!

Second of all, she had good reason to distrust men. Her biological father was a convicted pedophile who hung himself in prison when she was a child. After that, her mother abandoned her and her brother with her abusive, alcoholic grandparents. Her grandfather and his friends raped her so frequently that she gave birth to a baby boy (who was immediately put up for adoption) when she was a child. By 11 years old she was already exchanging sex for drugs, cigarettes, and other things. Does that sound like a woman who wouldn’t jump when a man moves too quickly? With a gun, I can totally see a situation where the johns crossed a boundary and she reacted explosively to yet another man trying to sexually abuse her, considering her history and the dangers of sex work.

Additionally, I’m still continually shocked that she was executed for these crimes, considering that men have gotten life or less for worse crimes committed for genuinely evil, incomprehensible reasons (I.e. pedophilia, the thrill, power, etc like Manson). I think the fascination and infamy of her crimes comes partially from the fact that female serial killers are extremely rare, and “direct” female killers (women who don’t use poison/neglect/other indirect methods) are even more rare. I’m disgusted that she’s consistently rated by the public as being as bad as the infamous male serial killers who were just…fucked up guys who got off on power. I’ve seen her compared directly to BTK, who would stalk his unsuspecting victims for MONTHS before breaking into their houses, torturing them, and killing them. Aileen Wuornos shot johns who solicited her sex work services and robbed them. I think there’s a pretty significant difference.

She also had a loving girlfriend that the media conveniently forgets when they talk about her being incapable of love and empathy. Her final interviews talking about her girlfriend and her final letter are all heartbreakingly tender and vulnerable. Men never gave her a reason to feel safe around them, but her relationships (platonic and romantic) with women were deeply involved and loving. The book with her letters is called Dear Dawn. The reviews are full of people saying “wow, I thought she was a stone cold bitch but the corrupt justice system and society did her so wrong”.

I don’t think it’s right that she robbed her johns at gunpoint or that she shot them. However, to compare the “brutality” of her crimes to those of say, America’s most prolific serial killer Samuel Little—who is confirmed to have killed at least 90 women, mostly sex workers and transients that he knew wouldn’t be missed, because of his choking fetish—is honestly absurd. And Samuel Little wasn’t given a death sentence!! He actually got a PLEA DEAL that took the death penalty off the table. It’s gut-wrenching knowing that there’s a very well-known movie (starring Charlize Theron) about her that’s literally called Monster) like what the fuck?? She’s easily the most notorious female “serial killer” (I use that term loosely because, as I said, her crimes differ vastly in nature and motivation from those of male serial killers) that exists despite the apparent non-evil explanations that make much more sense than “lol woman lying and evil”.

Idk I just…does anyone else have any thoughts about this? Whenever I bring it up with friends, especially men, they’re like “SO YOU THINK ROBBING AND KILLING PEOPLE IS OKAY?” and I’m just so tired of it. I hoped you queens would understand what I’m trying to say here.