The feminine guilt – A contribution to the application of the doctrine of excuse considering the social pressure arising from the expectation of conformity with the stereotype, based on an analysis of Euripides’ Medea

Inês Antunes da Costa, associate at Morais Leitão, is the author of the article “The feminine guilt – A contribution to the application of the doctrine of excuse considering the social pressure arising from the expectation of conformity with the stereotype, based on an analysis of Euripides’ Medea”, published in the latest issue of the journal Anatomia do Crime (Issue No. 21, available in open access on the IDPCC website).

Based on Euripides’ Greek tragedy Medea, the study offers an in-depth reflection on the impact of gender stereotypes in the assessment of guilt, with a particular focus on filicide crimes committed by mothers. It highlights how social pressure and expectations of conformity to stereotypical roles can influence not only the commission of such crimes but also the moral and legal judgment of the offender.

The article is structured in three main parts: an interpretation of the Medea tragedy and its relevance to the law; a gender critique of the legal system, exposing how it perpetuates stereotypes and shapes the definition of guilt; and the articulation between the Principle of Excuse and maternal filicide, taking into account the existential conflict faced by mothers.

The author advocates for a more sensitive approach to social pressures and gender stereotypes in the application of justice, stressing the need for judgment criteria that promote equality and ensure fairer decisions.

See the article at the link below.