Jack the Ripper and the Myth of Male Violence

Jack The Ripper and The Myth of Male Violence

“Jack the Ripper and the Myth of Male Violence” reports the past events and notorious murders committed by Jack The Ripper. Judith Walkowitz argues that Jack the Ripper has contributed to women’s sense of helplessness in the modern urban culture. The mystery of the killings connected to the idea of his targets strictly being “Fallen Women” caused for these cases to become widely spoken about and feared among many women.

Author Judith R. Walkowitz focuses her research on The Ripper’s material contribution to a women’s sense of vulnerability in relation to the status of male violence against women that the Ripper Murders achieved over the past hundred years. The facts of the case and victims were studied attentively to fully grasp the information surrounding why the murders were committed, how they were committed and why.

Walkowitz focuses on the response to the murders in depth. The responses of both women and men regarding the events around the murders were varied. However, both sexes felt a sense of vulnerability.

The women of Whitechapel were seemingly similarly fascinated and terrified, which led to gossiping about the murders. Various types of aid were offered to the prostitutes and the prostitutes were given more aid as a result of the events. The author then continues to study the resolution of these crimes, it is agreed that The Rippers presence will unceasingly succeed at intruding the minds of women.

Walkowitz argues that the murders committed by The Ripper did not directly increase male sexual violence however “it covertly sanctioned male antagonism toward women and buttressed male authority over them.” (Walkowitz,563). The acts of The Ripper encouraged young boys to take on the role of Jack the Ripper and torment younger girls. When reviewing the section on “Response to the Murders” the author mentions the class divisions between men and women, which at this time was highly pronounced. The Ripper Murders exposed innate sexual resentment and aggression which was most frequently expressed by men towards women. The newspaper coverage of these events blamed the women of evil life for bringing these murders onto themselves.

Continuing her arguments, the author’s view on the Ripper concludes that his image as a killer does not allow us to fully understand everything there is to know about the male culture and nature. Walkowitz claims that feminists must further study the complexity of the case as well as its simplified image. The stories of The Ripper have forced men to be seen as suspect and women to gain increasing anxieties and views on male violence. Walkowitz sees our world as having neither male nor female victimization in regards to violence and passivity. If so there would have to be one single rooted cause as she describes, however there is not. Our culture