This week, I explore the question, Why do women love true crime? I myself listen to true crime podcasts and often wonder, Why do I love listening to these stories? And perhaps, more importantly: does my interest in true crime suggest some sort of moral deficiency on my part?

Here are the reasons I discuss on Episode 39 of Adventures With My Forties:

• Catharsis: True crime stories address our fears of what could happen and rage for what has been done. We get to tap into our feelings of suppressed rage and fear.
• The village of women coming together: Violent crimes are mostly committed against women. True crime stories allow us to shine light on this darkness and bond against the creeps and monsters.
• Empathy: Women are empathetic and connect with the victim. But also, I try to fathom how the culprit went from “an innocent baby” to a “monster who could commit such heinous crimes.”
• Collective search for justice: If we work together and share information, we can bring these monsters to justice and hopefully persuade would-be-killers that it’s too dangerous to commit these crimes. We are watching! We are not afraid to turn you in! . 
• Subliminal feeling of evading death: I don’t think this reason explains why I listen to true crime podcasts, but this might resonate with you.
• Vicarious thrill: Ditto. I prefer to get my thrills on rollercoasters, thank you very much.
• Police accountability: Do your job! Protect the victims!
• Helping police: Police have limited resources and tips solve crimes.
• Reminder to be vigilant: Sometimes you have to be rude to creepy people and defy social norms when your gut is telling you that a situation is off. Just last night, I taught this lesson to my daughter. We were leaving a Girl Scout event at 9:30 p.m. in an unincorporated neighborhood without street lights and someone was sleeping on the parkway near our car. Pippa commented that she felt bad walking away from the person, and I gave her a pep talk, telling her that our safety is more important than a stranger’s feelings. True crime podcasts remind me all the things I need to teach my daughter to navigate the world safely as a woman.

So why do I, a forty-four-year old woman, listen to true crime podcasts? Because, for all the reasons listed above, it’s empowering. Lots of people think its weird or morbid that women enjoy true crime–I wonder what those same people think about men who participate in Civil War reenactments? If it’s important to study war in history classes, then it’s also important to study violent crimes that are predominantly committed against women so we can grow stronger and reduce these crimes as much as possible. We tell these stories not for lurid entertainment but to crush conduct that is unacceptable.

Currently, my favorite true crime podcast is Crime Junkie. Recently, I’ve also enjoyed Scamanda and The Girlfriends. I have no plans to launch a true crime podcast of my own — but who knows? Crazier things have happened.