Is this film fair to men?

Rating: Null/10 (18 October 2004)

Monster is an excellent film portrayed effectively by Theron. However can we justify the portrayal of Aileen? If this had a been a male serial killer who had suffered a similar abusive childhood as Aileen would we feel any sympathy towards him? I doubt so.
This case was so unique, Aileen was often described as the first female serial killer, it seems her abusive childhood has overshadowed what she actually did. She killed numerous men in cold blood and ONE in self defence, if this had been a man killing women in cold blood we would agree that he should be put to death. In a society where equality for women is a sensitive issue, why do we sympathies with Aileen? Her first murder was done purely out of self defence, but the subsequent killings where done purely for money, these men never threatened to rape or kill her. In her final killing a man begs for his life and yet she still kills him in cold blood for doing nothing other than offering her a lift. Can we really say an abusive childhood is an excuse for the violent acts carried out by either men or women?