Episode 68

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Published on:

10th Sep 2026

Making Sense of Men's Femicide Narratives - Dr Martín Hernán Di Marco

‘Femicide’ is broadly defined as the killing of women and girls due to their gender. So how do men who have perpetrated this fatal violence construct narrative histories to explain, justify, or process their actions? What is the role of emotions – fear, helplessness, pain, and anger – in their narratives? How can this help us to move beyond simplistic, individualising societal understandings of men who commit homicide, and what are the tensions of listening to the stories they tell? To what extent is femicide a reflection not only of individual acts of extreme violence but also of deeply ingrained gender norms, patriarchal power, and cultural impunity?

Based on extensive interview data with men convicted of intimate femicide across multiple countries in Latin America – which has seen particularly powerful feminist anti-femicide movements in recent years – in this episode Dr Martín Hernán Di Marco explores the intersection between violence perpetration and life-courses, masculinities, and social networks and systems. He addresses the limitations of medicalised approaches which explain lethal gender-based violence primarily through individual psychopathologies, mental health conditions, or personal substance abuse history. By examining the structural factors that contribute to femicide, as well as male-on-male homicide, he argues that it is possible to develop more effective interventions and alternative narratives that not only respond to violence, but also work to prevent it.

Originally from Argentina, Martín is an Associate Professor at OsloMet University in Norway. He’s also a Managing Editor of NORMA: International Journal for Masculinity Studies. His book, entitled ‘Taking Lives: Narratives of Latin American Femicide Perpetrators’, was published in 2025 by Palgrave Macmillan. 

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Episode timeline:

  • Intro
  • What femicide means (02:00-04:37)
  • Anti-femicide movements in Latin America (04:37-06:25)
  • What led Martín to this research (06:25-08:12)
  • His relationship with feminism (08:12-11:28)
  • The role of narratives in making sense of men’s violence (11:28-14:34)
  • Changing the public story about men who use violence (14:34-17:02)
  • How perpetrators rationalise their actions (17:02-23:11)
  • The role of emotions in violence (23:11-27:03)
  • Break
  • What femicide and male-male homicide have to do with masculinity (27:15-35:51)
  • The importance of place (35:51-37:34)
  • The tensions involved in speaking to men who’ve used violence (37:34-41:58)
  • Researching the role of wider social networks (41:58-43:21)
  • Possibilities for desistance and behaviour change (43:21-48:36)
  • The limitations of typologies and pathologising perpetrators (48:36-51:57)
  • Attacks on women’s rights in Argentina under Javier Milei (51:57-57:20)
  • Conclusion (57:26-01:04:47)

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Music: 'Now is time', courtesy of Chaps' Choir and Dom Stichbury. Please note that the transcript is a rough estimation and is likely to contain errors. Please do not reproduce without permission.

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About the Podcast

Now and Men
Changing Masculinities, Challenging Norms
What role can men play in achieving gender equality?
Why is feminism good for men?
How are rigid ideas about masculinity holding back our lives—and how are people around the world challenging them?

These are the questions at the heart of Now and Men, a podcast hosted by social researchers Dr Stephen Burrell (Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, Australia) and Sandy Ruxton (Independent Researcher and Honorary Fellow at Durham University, UK).

We explore masculinity and change in the lives of men and boys today, diving into issues such as gender-based violence, fatherhood, men’s health, politics and the environment. Grounded in feminist thinking, our conversations connect big ideas to everyday experiences—showing how gender shapes all of us, and how men can be part of building a more equal world.

At a time when regressive versions of masculinity are resurging—amplified by political leaders, online influencers, even podcasters—we spotlight the people pushing back. Each episode features inspiring voices working to engage men and boys in positive, transformative ways and imagining feminist futures.

New episodes drop every month. Follow us wherever you get your podcasts, and join us in exploring what healthy, caring, equitable paths forward can look like for men. Questions or comments? We’d love to hear from you at nowandmen@gmail.com.

About your hosts

Stephen Burrell

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I am a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Melbourne. I'm originally from the UK, and moved to Australia at the beginning of 2024. My research is about men, masculinities, and violence. I am particularly interested in the prevention of men's violence - especially violence against women, and violence against the environment - and promoting care as an alternative. I'm a big fan of feminism, drinking tea, connecting with nature, eating vegan snacks, and listening to heavy metal.

Sandy Ruxton

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Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology at Durham University (UK). Independent researcher, expert on men and masculinities. Previous policy work on human rights, children and families, poverty and social exclusion, and asylum and migration. Programme experience with boys and young men in schools, community, and prisons. Steering Committee member, MenEngage Europe. Volunteer for OX4 Food Crew. Chess-player, bike-rider, tree-hugger. Great grandfather edited Boy's Own Paper, but was sacked.