I think understanding paves the way to forgiveness, you understanding the desperation of the circumstance that lead the person eating your child is in of itself forgiveness, you might hate them still but your understanding would cease any further hatred/action towards said party which in my mind is forgiveness albeit a small step.

You are correct though that society views these scenarios differently based on the gender of the offender. Safe to assume then the perception is heightened because as you state the fact that brutal physicality is more likely with male offenders. The fact that mens “culture” is one of high praise at having had sex in the first place regardless of the nature and circumstances of it also means that the instances of the reverse actually being reported or documented is low.