Darling, Would You Like a Slice?
Alicia Kim
When a Black Widow hits the news, they are often vilified as unnatural, manipulative, and irredeemable, in contrast to male killers, who are framed as complex individuals and sometimes even romanticized, such as Ted Bundy. A Black Widow's motives are reduced to deceit rather than desperation or survival from our society that still expects women to be obedient, domestic, and have unconditional devotion to their husbands. When escaping the marriage is impossible, women would often turn to poison to achieve a sense of freedom.
I was drawn to the stories of these women not to justify their actions but to understand the circumstances that led them down this path. I’ve created a book that envisions a guide for wives trapped in oppressive marriages—one that both humanizes and romanticizes the Black Widow archetype. One side offers a glimpse into the crushing societal expectations placed upon them. At the same time, the other serves as a blueprint for transformation, illustrating the journey from entrapment to liberation through the lens of a woman who got away with her husband's death.