Durkheim postulated that egoistic/anomic suicides occur in modern society while altruistic/fatalistic suicides occur in preindustrial society. However, contemporary studies of female suicidal behaviour show characteristics of low self-esteem, passivity, dependence, & living vicariously for others, corresponding to behaviours that produce the lack of individuation seen in altruistic/fatalistic suicides. It is suggested that such suicides occur because men & women occupy different social milieus.