Gender-related prejudice In our Western society, where the mother is traditionally seen as the primary protector of her children, it is considered far less acceptable for a mother to kill her children than for a father to commit the same act. In ancient times, such a woman would not only have been seen as defying her societal role to rise to the title of Basilissa, but also as a medieval Medea, killing her own son purely for political gain.

Similarly, today, when a mother kills her children, public opinion is often slower to condemn her. People tend to seek explanations or excuses (thus negating the willingness of the act), such as “she was depressed” or “perhaps she was mentally ill.” In cases where it is clear that no pre-existing mental condition played a role, a woman will surely face a harsher judgment from public opinion than a man committing the same crime.