This study of murder-suicide in Australia is based on the analysis of 188 events in four states over the period 1973-1992. The focus is on 2 types of murder-suicide – those events in which a male offender kills his female partner & those events in which parents kills his or her child or children. The movitations of men & women who commit murder & then kill themselves are qualitatively different. The findings are discussed from a feminist perspective. It is argued there is a need to combine psychological & sociological frameworks for a better understanding of this phenomenon. (14 refs.)