This study investigates the impact of relative social status on violence against women in Mexico using state-level panel data. Relatively higher female social status, measured by educational, economic and political standings, is associated with lower homicide rates for women and lower intimate partner violence rates. More importantly, different status variables affect violence against women through different channels, depending on the victim–offender relationship. The results are robust to different specifications and different control variables. This study may provide helpful guidelines to policy-makers attempting to identify more effective means for deterring violence against women.