by Debbie Burke
Medea – public domain
Today’s post is an excerpt from my upcoming book, The Villain’s Journey – How to Create Villains Readers Love to Hate (publication Summer 2025).
In 1911, Rudyard Kipling wrote: “The female of the species is more deadly than the male.”
From ancient times to contemporary novels, memorable women villains back up his statement.
How do female villains differ from male villains?
The most obvious is physical size and strength. Although there are kick-ass women who can bench press more than their own weight, females generally have smaller builds and are lighter in weight. Instead of brute force often used by their male counterparts, female villains rely more on brains, strategy, cunning, deceit, and manipulation to achieve their goals.
Statistically, men commit more crimes than women. Per the FBI in 2019, males were charged for 72.5% of overall crimes while females accounted for 27.5%. Generally, males account for more violent crimes (78.9%), although female violent offenses are trending up. Women’s crimes tend more toward larceny and theft offenses (42.6%).
Good news for female villains: women tend to receive more lenient sentences than men. According to 2012 research by Sonja B. Starr, University of Michigan Law School, found that, controlling for the crime, “men receive 63% longer sentences on average than women do,” and “[w]omen are…twice as likely to avoid incarceration if convicted.”
Let’s take a look at several classifications of female villains:
The Power Behind the Throne – Through history, smart, daring, ambitious female villains allied themselves with powerful men. Although they stayed in the background, they manipulated the strings of the male figurehead puppet.
Medea is a Greek tragedy written by Euripides, first performed in 431 BCE. Medea is a ruthless princess and sorceress with divine powers who helps Jason steal the Golden Fleece to secure his royal position. However, when Jason is unfaithful to her, to strike back at him, Medea murders their own children.
Despite the horrific crime, capricious Greek gods spared her from punishment. She goes on to marry again.
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare’s play originally performed in 1623, the ambitious Lady Macbeth cajoles, belittles, and shames her husband into murder to attain the Scottish throne. Despite her ruthlessness, she still has a human conscience. Although she didn’t commit murders, she instigated them, and her hands are bloody. She sleepwalks at night, mumbling about killings. No matter how much she scrubs she can’t wash invisible bloodstains from her hands. “Out, damned spot, out, I say!”
For Lady Macbeth, the price of being the power behind the throne is too high and she kills herself.
The Femme Fatale– In the Bible, Salome danced for King Herod, who was so taken by her that he granted her request for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. She exemplifies the trope of beautiful women who use allure, mystery, and seduction to gain power and control over males.
Hard-boiled authors James M. Cain, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and other pulp writers popularized the sultry, manipulative female who captivates a male character then leads him to doom. She convinces the man to commit a crime. Afterward, she often leaves him to take the fall.
Cora in The Postman Always Rings Twice (James M. Cain, 1934, Knopf) owns a diner with her much older husband Nick. When a handsome drifter arrives on scene, he and Cora have a passionate affair that leads to Nick’s murder and ultimately catastrophe for the lovers.
The bestselling novel has been adapted to sizzling film versions with actors Lana Turner and John Garfield in 1946, and with Jessica Lange and Jack Nicholson in 1981.
In Double Indemnity, also by Cain (originally serialized in 1936 in Liberty Magazine), a conniving wife Phyllis wants to get rid of her husband for the insurance money. She mesmerizes insurance agent Walter into agreeing to murder. After they kill the husband, the company is suspicious and withholds payment, dooming the adulterers.
In the 1944 film, the characters are memorably played by Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray.
In The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1930, Knopf), Brigid O’Shaughnessy is a seductive fortune seeker who hires private detective Sam Spade under false pretenses. Her true quest is the Maltese Falcon, a gold, bejeweled statue disguised under black enamel. She leads him on a merry chase through a journey of violence and murder.
Although Spade succumbs to Brigid’s wiles he recognizes her duplicity and ultimately turns her into the police for murder.
The 1941 film version starred Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, and Sydney Greenstreet, and is hailed among the greatest movies of all time.
Financial gain and independence are often the motivations for femme fatales. They exploit their sexuality to manipulate men into helping them. But their behavior comes with a steep price—life on the run, prison, or death.
By the latter part of the 20th century, the female villain takes power into her own hands, not depending on a proxy male to achieve her desires.
The Tyrant – Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey (1962) exerts total control over the inmates in a mental asylum. Under her calm, serene demeanor, she is a vicious sadist who punishes anyone who defies her. In the 1975 film, Oscar winner Louise Fletcher etched the bland yet terrifying character in public consciousness.
Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Annie Wilkes in Stephen King’s Misery (1987) is another plain, middle-aged woman hiding a vicious heart. Kathy Bates brought the role of “number one fan” to life.
Lady Psychopaths – In the 1992 film Basic Instinct, Sharon Stone plays Catherine Trammel, a brilliant psychopathic author who seduces both men and women. Her lovers wind up stabbed to death with an ice pick. Since the murders are eerily similar to those described in her bestselling novels, she becomes the prime suspect. She enjoys playing cat and mouse with the police, teasing and taunting them, and deftly maneuvers her way out of conviction. The chilling end of the movie leaves no doubt that she intends to continue her pattern.
For a fresh take on a psychopath, I recommend the 2019 novel My Sister, The Serial Killer by Nigerian author Oynkan Braithwaite. Family loyalty forces a conscientious woman to cover up her younger sister’s crimes. The thriller is a fascinating study of manipulation by a narcissist who is more distressed by her melting ice cream cone than the terrible harm she causes others.
Mean Girls– Around puberty in real life, the “mean girl phenomenon” often appears. Adolescent young women develop razor-like tongues to shred their victims and perfectly manicured claws to eviscerate them. They form packs, also known as cliques, where they band together to humiliate victims, cornering them to belittle their appearance, clothes, makeup, lack of popularity, and other petty issues. They often turn on each other—their best friend can change to their worst enemy in the blink of an eyelash extension.
Examples in contemporary fiction include the girls who mercilessly bully Carrie in Stephen King’s novel; Pretty Little Liars, a YA series by Sara Shepherd; Dare Me by Meg Abbott.
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Is Kipling right that the female of the species is more deadly than the male?
TKZers, what’s your verdict?
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In the comments, please nominate your favorite female villain of all time and why she’s memorable.
If your own work features a female villain, please share the details with us.
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Cover by Brian Hoffman
Jerome Kobayashi’s roots go deep in his cherry orchard on Montana’s Flathead Lake where his wife’s ashes are buried. He refuses to sell his land, but a female billionaire won’t take no for an answer.
Meet my latest female villain in Fruit of the Poisonous Tree. FREE today on Kindle.
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Kipling would not have been surprised by the French crime movie starring the great Jean Gabin: Deadlier Than The Male (1956). Or the pulp novel by Gil Brewer with the subtle title: Satan is a Woman.
I do love a good femme fatale. The deadliest, IMO, is Ann Savage in Detour (1945). Oh, man. Do NOT pick her up hitchhiking!
Jim, I haven’t seen Detour and will look it up. Here’s an interesting article about it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detour_(1945_film)
As a kid, the danger of hitchhikers was relentlessly drummed into me. Bet my parents saw that film.
Good food for thought, Debbie. Good luck with the new book. I don’t write “villains” per se, just perpetrators of crimes. I’m sure I’ve had females in that role, but for the life of me, I can’t recall who or in which book. I’ll chalk it up to the early hour here, although I’ve already been up for an hour, so maybe that’s not a good excuse.
Another cup of coffee is all you need, Terry.
“Perpetrators of crimes” is a good term. Characters can act out of passion. Or they inadvertently fall into risky circumstances and don’t see another way out.
Bad choices don’t necessarily have evil intent. But consequences can be disastrous.
Oh yeah! He’s correct.
We ladies have that innocent, helpless thing down pat. Which appeals to the male ego, I’m sure.
And not just the human species, either. Just ask Mr. Mantis how it’s going with Mrs. Mantis. I can hear her now.
“Off with his head!”
Good post, Debbie. I think when the bad guy is a gal, the story spices up a bit.
Happy Tuesday… 🙂
LOL, Deb! You cracked me up with the Mantis couple.
The “weaker sex” ain’t all that week.
Thanks for stopping by.
What a fabulous topic! My oldest child has a few tattoos, OK 27. She is planning the next few. One of the next ones will be a tent spike. Judges 4:20 is her favorite Bible verse. Probably my fault. Her name is Yael, or as some Bibles write it, Jael. While not the villain of the story, a woman not to be messed with. It does help to have good writers.
One of Elaine Viets short stories has a female killer. A very well written cautionary tale of cheating.
Alan, thanks for your comment and the reference to Yael. Your daughter sounds like a source to be reckoned with!
Coincidentally, right now I’m reading a manuscript where a meek, cowed wife turns out to be one scary lady. And her name is Yael.
A few years ago I was introduced to professional women’s tackle football. In a few minutes I will become a season ticket holder of the St. Louis Slam, Women’s Football. They are a great group of women. My buddy Mary, currently a defensive end, has more than enough body strength to put a hurting on you, as do many of her teammates.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4MLYBCOzQu6KtgptDjnpOzIrgsU2HLgXBDhD40/?hl=en
Sounds fun, Alan.
Women are gaining traction in pro sports, thanks to athletes like Caitlin Clark
Great look into the world of female villains, Debbie! I agree with Kipling. Although men do commit more crimes, and more violent crimes, they tend to be brute force personalities. Women are more subtle—maybe sneaky is the word—when they want to do somebody in.
I’ll nominate any of the witches in the Disney animated films as most villainous female. There was one (I believe she was in Sleeping Beauty) that really scared me when I was a kid. I don’t remember much about what she did, but I can still recall the way she looked.
You’ve given us a taste of your new book. Looking forward to its release.
I agree about Disney witches, Kay. The Evil Queen in Snow Whtie is another one who caused nightmares.
Women are often terrific unexpected villains and fun to write.
In my book Where Is My Sister, the antagonist is a woman running a human trafficking ring disguised as a women’s leadership program. I loved writing a bad female. The Sociopath Next Door was my go-to for research. I think women can be deadlier because we can be sneaky and nefarious and no one suspects us.
Oooh, Jane, that’s really evil, masquerading as a do-gooder to hide their true predatory intentions. “Sneaky and nefarious and no one suspects us.” Yup!
Women aren’t afraid to get blood on their hands. Just ax Lizzie Borden, though her murders might have been justifiable after a week of spoiled mutton in the hot summer. Belle Gunness may have killed as many as 40 people and disposed of the bodies in her hog pen. There are many more. Women serial killers tend to get a lot of publicity.
But deadlier than men? I don’t think so. Serial Killers Info says, “Based on known information, the number of male serial killers is much higher than women serial killers.” Some women may go free, but our gender does get blamed. Just ask Eve.
Good points, Elaine. Women do get more notoriety b/c they’re rarer.
Yes, poor Eve…
My WIP, “Careless Sheep” features a true Black Widow type who kills and eats her mate all for the good of her unborn baby. On the outside she is a loving, kind person but she has her own agenda and no one better get in her way. I’m not sure whether she is good or bad but she fascinates me and exploring her personality has been great fun.
Brian, your character is not only a Black Widow but also a cannibal–a double header! Yes, exploring the dark side is fascinating. But then we writers are weird.
Especially those of us who write horror, it’s part of our job description.
LOL.We’re definitely qualified.
Terrific post, Debbie. I’m really looking forward to your upcoming book on villains. I agree that men commit more violent crimes in real life, and thus, in mysteries, women can sometimes be more unexpected as murderers.
Thanks for your encouragement, Dale!
Delivering the “unexpected” to readers is our job as writers.
Kipling’s complete statement is an epigraph in a chapter of Pride’s Children: NETHERWORLD:
“WHEN the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.”
And my villain is essential to the outcome of the story – she overreaches, with significant consequences to her own plans.
She ALMOST gets away with it; her fury when exposed, and her power to deny the ‘right’ solution out of spite, is massive. The spite will protect her reputation…
The whole story would not, could not happen without her. But what she’s done is a very difficult ‘crime’ (?) to prove.
I’ve had readers tell me she’s their favorite character.
Alicia, thanks for chiming in. You nailed the major premise of The Villain’s Journey. Antagonists are the true drivers of the story. W/o them to upset the world, the hero doesn’t have much to do.
“Yet we’re linked, you and I. Like comedy and tragedy. Two sides, same coin.” — The Batman (2004)
Also, Bianca has excellent and believable reasons for what she has decided to do, and much of it is also forced on her by the way Hollywood has traditionally treated women, so it COULD work very well…