What is a Gangster‘s Girlfriend Called?

So you just started dating a handsome bad boy who sports flashy suits and big wads of cash. He whisks you to glitzy nightclubs, lavishes you with furs and diamonds, and always has armed men nearby acting as "security". You have an illicit suspicion he‘s involved in criminal activity, even if the details remain shadowy. What should you call your mysterious new mobster boyfriend? And what role exactly have you stepped into as his special lady friend?

Let‘s time travel through pop culture history to unravel gangland girl code, costumes and culture. We‘ll see how mobster molls, comares and goomars have been romanticized and victimized over time. From Crime Queens to Exploited Girls, we‘ll decode the many archetypes and names for the leading lady in a gangster‘s life.

The Classic "Gun Moll" or Gangster‘s Girl

In mobster movies, we see glammed-up women in silk dresses and feathery hats hanging onto gangsters in pinstripe suits. This iconic look defined the "gun moll" or "gangster‘s moll", terms used for a gangster‘s female companion dating back over a century.

The word "moll" emerged as slang from "Molly" – a euphemism used back in the 1800s for prostitute or whore. So right away the term highlighted the romantic or sexual aspects of a gangster‘s gal.

Meanwhile "gun" originally referred to thieves in British slang, stemming from the Hebrew/Yiddish word "goniff". Put them together and "gun moll" paints a picture of a lady friend to an armed bandit.

The first print sighting of "gun moll" appeared in a 1914 Oregon newspaper describing the murder of gang leader Louis Leon. By the 1920s, "gun moll" was common vernacular for a gangster‘s female sidekick.

Famous gun molls of the early 1900s include:

• The glamorous Bonnie Parker of Bonnie & Clyde infamy
• Blanche Barrow, married to Clyde‘s partner Buck Barrow
• Virginia Hill, girlfriend of both Bugsy Siegel and Vito Genovese
• Evelyn "Billie" Frechette, lover of 1930s bank robber John Dillinger

Gun molls weren‘t just an American phenomenon either. Winnie Ruth Judd was an infamous "Trunk Murderess" in 1930s Australia. While in Denmark, Guðrún Gísladóttir made headlines as the girlfriend of armed robber Flóvent Ingi Þórsson.

Clearly "gun moll" had international appeal as the term for a gangster‘s classy but dangerous gal.

Mafia Mistresses – The "Goomar" or "Goomah"

For Italian-American gangsters, their mistresses were called "goomars" or "goomahs". This came from the Italian word "comare" meaning godmother or close female friend.

Within the Italian underworld though, "comare" took on sexual undertones referring to a gangster‘s lady on the side. When immigrants brought the term to America, it became "goomar" in regional dialects.

According to mafia expert Jerry Capeci, a goomar serves several key roles:

"A ‘goomar’ pronounced ‘goomah’ in Italian circles, is a Mafia mistress. Girlfriend doesn’t adequately describe the relationship. The goomar is mistress, confidante, comforter and distraction for the man who holds a position of power and responsibility in La Cosa Nostra."

Famous mafia goomars include:

• Again, Virginia Hill – shared mistress of Bugsy Siegel of the Genovese family and Vito Genovese himself
• Arlyne Brickman – mistress to members of the Colombo crime family
• Linda Schiro – longtime girlfriend of Greg Scarpa Sr. of the Colombo organization

Based on these dangerous liaisons, being a goomar required feminine mystique and nerves of steel.

Trendy Titles for Mobster‘s Gal

As times changed, so did titles used by gangsters for their special lady friends. Here are some more modern twists:

• "Bloodette" – Slang term for female members of the Bloods street gang. So a Blood member‘s girlfriend adopted this nickname.
• "Biker Babe" – Girlfriends of motorcycle gang members got this sassy moniker.
• [Gang name] + "ette" – Girlfriends take on extensions of their boyfriend‘s gang, like "Cripette" for a Crip‘s girl or a Latin Queen for the girlfriend of a Latin King.

But even with changing terminology, the essence remains the same. These labels all refer to a female participation in gang culture through an intimate relationship with a member.

The Evolution of Mob Molls in Pop Culture

If we analyze pop culture portrayals of gun molls and mob girlfriends over past decades, some interesting trends emerge in how we view them as a society.

The Glamorous & Tragic Figures of Early Gangster Films

In old Hollywood, mob movies portrayed gun molls as glamorous and desired forbidden figures. They were adorned in furs, pearls and silk as trophies on the arms of gangsters in clubs. These molls seemed to live exciting lives outside the rules of polite society.

Yet their stories often ended tragically, with the moll killed as retaliation or collateral damage from mob violence. So they occupied a tantalizing but doomed place in the mythology.

The Manipulated & Exploited Girls of Later Films

Later movies in the 1950s-1960s took a more critical look at gun molls. Rather than glam figures, they were now portrayed as manipulated girls or victims trapped by abusive and controlling gangsters.

Films like Al Capone (1959) and Mob Girls (1958) show young women suffering violence, rape, and trauma at the hands of gang members. This shift aligned more with real-life accounts of exploitation covered up by the glitzy exterior of a gangster‘s girl.

The "Ride or Die" Queenpins of Hip-Hop Culture

In modern hip-hop, we see females embraced as fearless "ride or die" partners in the thug life. Artists praise girls down to do anything for their men ("Bonnie & Clyde ‘03" by Jay-Z).

While this sounds empowering, critics argue it glorifies harmful notions that lead young women into dangerous lifestyles. The queens of hip-hop reflect the continuing appeal yet precarious role of mobster‘s lovers.

From Fantasy to Reality – Truths About Gun Molls & Goomars

Behind the cinematic legends lies the real lived experiences of women who loved gangsters. What was life actually like for gun molls and goomahs?

The Allure of theForbidden

Let‘s face it – dating a bad boy gangster appealed because it was thrilling, risky and a forbidden fantasy. Young women felt flattered by attention from powerful mobsters who carried an air of danger and excitement.

Getting a glimpse into a risky criminal underworld satisfied desires for adventure and status as the gangster‘s chosen girl. But it came at a price.

The Hidden Dangers of Their World

Gangsters tried to shield their molls from bloody business details to minimize risk. The less the moll knew, the less she could testify to.

But according to British criminologist Dick Hobbs:

"The girls are a vulnerability. They‘re not part of the criminal enterprise, so ideally you want to keep them at arm‘s length so they can‘t say anything under interrogation."

In reality, separation didn‘t guarantee safety. Gang rivalry, clique politics and hypermasculinity made molls vulnerable to violence by their own gang members as well – including rape, assault and coercion.

The Tragedy of Women in Love With Criminals

The emotional tragedy of gun molls is explored in Arlyne Brickman‘s memoir Mob Girl. Seduced by mobsters‘ charm and money, she faced their psychological and physical abuse of women.

According to criminologist Andrew Karmen:

"When the romance faded…[gun molls] faced abandonment, ostracism, and high rates of violence."

Few gun molls achieved financial security or stability. The danger was all an illusion – once the gangster died or went to jail, the moll was left with nothing.

Security Tips for Mob Girlfriends

Let‘s say you insist on dating that handsome mob guy despite the risks. Here are tips to protect yourself based on lessons from past molls:

• Don‘t get your name on any assets – Keep finances totally separate so you have your own nest egg. Molls left broke when gangsters died or went to jail.

• Don‘t know anything you don‘t need to – The less you know, the less leverage gangsters have over you. Mob wives going to the police caused a bloodbath in the Castellammarese War.

• Have an exit strategy – Figure out backup plans if you need to leave quickly. Long-time molls faced danger leaving because they knew secrets.

• Separate business from pleasure – Don‘t get entangled in mob disputes. Galileo‘s lover Virginia Hill was killed for her messy involvement.

• Don‘t meet shady characters alone – Rival gangs and internally ambitious mobsters both pose threats. Always have trusted guards.

• Keep some independence – Avoid total emotional or financial dependence on your gangster. Stay involved in outside hobbies and interests.

The more you detach from crime details and maintain self-reliance, the better your chances of survival and independence if the romance goes south.

A Day in the Life of a Mob Girlfriend

To bring the gun moll experience to life, let‘s imagine a day in the glamorous but high-risk shoes of a gangster‘s lady…

You wake up next to your man Rico in a lavish master suite. Bodyguards stand outside the door. After breakfast in bed, a visit from Rico‘s consigliere for a hushed talk that seems serious. You know not to ask what it‘s about.

You pass the afternoon at an exclusive salon getting your hair and nails done flawless, and pick out a new sexy dress and heels at the boutique. Rico likes you to look stunning at his side when he takes you out.

A decadent dinner at an Italian restaurant Rico owns, drinking champagne. Then off to his private club with smoke-filled rooms and backdoor card games surrounded by armed cronies. You exchange looks with other dolled-up molls knowing not to ask too many questions.

At the end of the night, alone together in soft satin sheets – you feel protected in Rico‘s arms. But know tomorrow brings more secrets and dangers you can‘t control, as thrills come hand-in-hand with uncertainty in the life of a gangster‘s girl.

While the emotional and physical passions seem irresistible, every mob girlfriend has to ultimately weigh whether the risks are worth the rewards of being a gun moll.

Evolution of the Gangster‘s Girlfriend

Gangster‘s ladies have clearly evolved over the decades since those early gun molls of the 1920s. But busting myths versus reality remains a relevant issue.

On the surface, the life of a mob girlfriend seems like a sexy adventure of decadence, protection and status as a gangster‘s ride-or-die. Easy to see why it appeals to young women drawn to danger and power.

But the real risks of violence, coercion and manipulation in those worlds means not just thrills but tragic consequences for many molls and goomars.

As feminists shed more light on the positions of women in organized crime, there‘s greater recognition of their frequent exploitation. Yet the forbidden siren call of mob men still captivates pop culture and the public imagination.

So if you find yourself falling for a suspected gangster, dig into history before leaping into the shadows. Knowledge is power when it comes to navigating the slippery slope of becoming a gun moll. The more informed you are, the better able to play the game – and survive.