I know it's Canada, not the US... but London, ON is (unofficially) known as having one of the, if not the, highest density of serial killers compared to population from the 60's to the 80's. It's actually why we have the Block Parent program up here.
I you haven't read this book, it's a good one: https://www.amazon.ca/Murder-City-Canadas-Capital-1959-1984/dp/1460261828
Our domestic history always interests me. For instance, during the late 20th century the city of London Ontario and its surrounding areas was the serial murder capital of the world. This book goes into great detail about it; it's really quite chilling.
I also enjoy the domestic side of WWI. It's crazy to me that our WWI army was entirely voluntary and was about the same relative size of the US army (5% of the population) that was conscripted. The propaganda that our military used and the pressure they put on families to send their boys to war was really quite amazing. We had military men knocking on every door; we had plays and 'movies' put on at local auditoriums; we would use guilt and peer pressure to get everyone possible to sign up. I can't even imagine that happening now. It was the war where we finally became our own country; but we did it by bullying our kids so much that they would voluntarily go to hell on earth.
The book is called "Murder City", link to Amazon below to show you. However, it can be purchased downtown in local London bookstores.
There is some "weight" to the theory, but as others have pointed out, this city does not take critical analysis of any kind very well. Ironically because this city revolts so strongly against any bad press, and always has, this has allowed some pretty dark things to exist here.
When they are brought to light, more often than not the reaction is "oh, that happened in the past, we are not like that now."
Here's the book: https://www.amazon.ca/Murder-City-Canadas-Capital-1954-1984/dp/1460261828
I feel like you are completely missing the obvious.
This rhetoric (that is an answer to the fear's of women) has helped to make it so women are less likely to put themselves in vulnerable positions and thus are less likely to be attacked.
Men and women have no control group so you don't know how each of their actions affect the results; but it's logical to assume that more fear makes you more cautious and thus less vulnerable.
I am from Southwestern Ontario and recently read Murder City which documents the murders of serial killers living in the London area from 54-84. In nearly all of those cases the victims were women or young children; do it's easy to understand why our culture has instilled this fear.
You used to be able to check yourself in and out of mental institutions to avoid questioning and prosecution.
Murder City does a good job describing this situation; at least in the London area.
While I cannot speak for the person you’re responding to, I think they were referring to this well know fact:
This book, Murder City, is more rigorously researched. Murder City: The Untold Story of Canada's Serial Killer Capital, 1959-1984 https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1460261828/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_85PN7NRY2YR90WG8DQKZ
WWII is also a big reason for the uptick in serial killers. The generation of killers was raised by single mothers or had fathers with PTSD from the war.
Highways and easy vehicle access is another reason that added to the increase in crimes. There’s a really interesting book about serial killers in southern Ontario that examines why there was a increase in serial killers in this time frame. murder city
https://www.amazon.ca/Murder-City-Canadas-Capital-1959-1984/dp/1460261828 London was Murder City.....more than one serial killer at once!
You are actually the one that is mistaken. https://www.amazon.ca/Murder-City-Canadas-Capital-1959-1984/dp/1460261828