Human Rights

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Invisible Harm in a Visible War: A Thematic Analysis of Slow Violence and Engaged Vulnerability in the Denial of Children's Health Rights in Gaza
(2025-09-24) Aitblal, Hanan; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
This thesis investigates the systematic denial of Palestinian children’s right to health under Israel’s prolonged blockade of the Gaza Strip, with a focus on how this crisis reflects structural violations of international human rights law and entrenched forms of violence. Grounded in Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the study applies Rob Nixon’s theory of slow violence and Don Kulick’s concept of engaged vulnerability as analytical tools to examine how long-term policies produce lasting harm. The analysis is based on a thematic analysis of three humanitarian and legal reports published in 2024, which serve as the main empirical sources. The study identifies central patterns of violation, including the weaponisation of food access, the breakdown of mental health services, and the erosion of food sovereignty. These findings show that the vulnerability of Palestinian children is not a natural condition but one produced by political neglect, systemic deprivation, and deliberate state action. The thesis argues that it represents a breach of legal obligations and a moral failure. It demonstrates that the blockade amounts to slow violence, with effects that unfold gradually but severely, with consequences that are often hidden yet deeply damaging to children’s lives and futures. By interpreting these patterns through a rights-based framework, the thesis concludes that the blockade constitutes a breach of binding international obligations and represents a form of slow violence, its effects gradual, cumulative, and harmful to children’s health and futures. The integration of engaged vulnerability also reveals how caregivers and affected communities resist invisibilisation by making children’s suffering visible in demands for justice. These frameworks bring into focus forms of harm that dominant legal or humanitarian discourses often overlook, such as the erosion of rights, protections, and futures and expose how time, visibility, and accountability are manipulated to obscure responsibility. The study highlights the need for a recalibrated international response that centers children’s rights and legal accountability. In doing so, it contributes to broader debates on how legal and theoretical approaches can expose and challenge structural injustices in protracted conflict zones.
FRÅN FOLKLORE TILL KULTURELLA RÄTTIGHETER: En kvalitativ studie av implementeringen av UNESCO:s konvention om tryggandet av det immateriella kulturarvet i Sverige
(2025-09-23) Sandberg, Eva-Lotta; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
Intangible cultural heritage is living traditions, customs and practices that have been transmitted between generations over time. It can be stories, music, dance, traditional crafts, ceremonies, rituals and festivals from our creative diversity that are part of people's community and identity. In this master's thesis, a critical review of the implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (CSICH) 2003 in Sweden is carried out from a human rights perspective. The Convention states that member states shall draw up inventories of their intangible cultural heritage and stresses that local communities, groups and, where appropriate, individuals shall be involved and given influence in its management. The Convention states that the negative aspects of globalization constitute a threat to the intangible cultural heritage which must therefore be protected. The right to tangible and intangible cultural heritage falls under the right to culture or cultural identity. Based on a qualitative method, representative participants in the implementation work in Sweden are interviewed, with an emphasis on participants from civil society, practitioners, non-profit organizations and local communities within intangible cultural heritage. The aim is to be able to say something about their experiences of the convention work in practice and how it has affected their practice and their activities. Based on this empirical data and previous research, the paper examines how well Sweden fulfils its international law obligations regarding cultural rights. The analysis is inspired by critical discourse analysis and is based on three theories: implementation theory, identity theory and Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA). An important starting point for the study is that the language of rights is often omitted in Swedish legislation. The result shows that practitioners, non-profit organizations and local communities are underrepresented in the convention work, which seems to be associated with the convention being implemented top-down. The entire implementation chain is characterized by language barriers, lack of continuity and shortcomings in outreach work. There are several reasons for this, partly because the assignment is underfunded, partly because of unclear writings regarding responsibility for rights and the division of responsibilities between the parties in political instruments, and the development of the concept from folklore to intangible cultural heritage. In addition, UNESCO's increased bureaucratization has legitimized that experts (representatives of state authorities) are given interpretative priority. At the same time, intangible cultural heritage has been given a new status through international law; from having been downgraded at the national level for a long time to gaining legitimacy through Sweden's accession to the convention. Conclusions that can be drawn are that the Swedish state and the indigenous Sami people have been given a more prominent position, while other national minorities and other groups within civil society have been more in the background. This has created an imbalance between the national minorities and a vacuum in civil society within the majority population. It shows that fundamental human rights and freedoms must take precedence over cultural rights in order for cultural rights to be protected for everyone, a conclusion that is consistent with General Comment No. 21 to the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). To ensure that the government fulfills its international law obligations regarding cultural rights, Sweden should ratify the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR.
Politik, etik, protest: Yttrandefrihet & palestiniers mänskliga rättigheter på svenska lärosäten
(2025-05-05) Birchman, Elinore; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
For more than a year and a half, students and faculty at universities across the world have been protesting academic complicity and non-innocence in the Israeli state’s treatment and mass killing of palestinians. According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, these events are part of a global crisis of freedom of expression. The following case study examines how freedom of expression and its limitations have been perceived and implemented at Swedish universities during the initial year of protests. It asks how the universities’ official stance on Israel and their related administrative measures affect protesters and freedom of expression in the Swedish academic setting. Through interviews with students and members of university administrations, and supplementary material such as news reports and self-publications, the question of freedom of expression at academic institutions is interpreted in relation to our public ethos, the ethics of care, and privileged irresponsibility. The study finds that the boundaries of permissible expressions were shaped in large part by conflicting views on how responsibility should be assigned in the organisational structure, and the significance of moral insight for personal and institutional accountability. These findings underscore the tension between freedom of expression, political engagement, and the university's role as both an autonomous institution and a state-regulated entity, while highlighting that what is framed as necessary impartiality by the leaderships of Swedish universities, is in practice institutional silencing of Palestinian advocacy.
Access to Healthcare in the USA: the case of trans people of colour
(2024-11-14) Johansson, Magnus; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
Transgender people all around the world still face discrimination, threat and violence. Despite the efforts of many states in the United States of America to address these issues, previous studies revealed that, particularly transgender people of colour, face discrimination and disrespect when in contact with their health care provider. This is a reflective dissertation that unveils people’s first-hand experience by means of interviews, academic literature, and reports from Human Rights Watch, Center for American Progress and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights amongst others. Intersectionality is used to support analyses on how transgender people of colour in United States (US) perceive healthcare access and the contact with their medical providers. The study is based on semi-structured interviews with eleven transgender persons of colour from all over the US. Interviews’ transcripts were analysed by means of thematic analysis method which allowed the generation of three main themes: perceived discrimination, lack of knowledge on transgender health care needs, and limited health insurance coverage. Furthermore, results indicated that the majority of transgender people of colour who participated in the study felt they were being discriminated against for being transgender. Despite the recent changes that aim to improve accessibility to health care for transgender people, the reports suggest there is still work to be done, especially for transgender people of colour.
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights utveckling som norm: En analys av Sveriges regering, Volvo och Göteborgs Stad
(2024-11-07) Zackrisson, Martina; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
Since the 1990s, when the number of transnational companies increased, it has created challenges regarding the responsibility of human rights. As a response to these challenges the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) unanimously endorsed the new policy UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) in 2011. UNGP does not have the status av international law, yet simply as guidelines and its implementation is based on good will and voluntary efforts. Now, 10 years later, this study aims to get understanding regarding if UNGP is considered as norm by the Swedish Government, Volvo and Gothenburg Municipality. The material of the study consists of sustainability reports, annual reports and governmental documents with focus on human rights in relation to business published between the year of 2011, when UNGP was endorsed, until 2020. The material has been analyzed through a thematic analysis and the theory of norm life cycle has featured as theoretical framework. The main results show that there has been a stable development of addressing and including UNGP by the Swedish Government and Volvo. As a result of the gradual development by the two actors makes them reach the third and final stage of the norm life cycle, internalization, and summarizes in that they consider UNGP as norm. The Gothenburg Municipality has during the same time period neither addressed nor included UNGP and is, for that reason, not regarded to consider UNGP as norm. The results indicate that the UNGP is included by its target groups, states and businesses, yet to do such a generalization there is need to extend this research to a greater number of actors.
Breaking the barriers and enhancing the enablers: A qualitative study on the state of adolescent girls’ education and the positive influence of NGO initiatives in Karnataka, India
(2024-11-07) Nelander, Nadine; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
India, with a population of approximately 1.429 billion people and 65% under the age of 35, hosts one of the largest education systems in the world. This demographic presents both opportunities and challenges, such as providing quality education for every girl. Regional variations in education quality and disparities in school participation among girls are notable. Karnataka, a state in southern India, known for its prominent universities and tech hub Bangalore, faces challenges at the elementary and secondary education levels. Despite various governmental initiatives to promote girls’ education, the likelihood of girls dropping out is a concern. Recognising that the government alone cannot address these challenges, several NGOs are involved in supporting this issue. This study aims to explore the state of young adolescent girls’ education in Karnataka through the lens of NGOs operating in the state, by holistically focusing on both the barriers and enablers to girls’ education. Additionally, the study examines how the NGOs’ initiatives can positively influence girls’ educational participation. The study employs a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with representatives from four NGOs, supplemented by observations. The findings suggest that while the state in terms of resources and acknowledgment of the importance of girls’ education shows progress, the perception of girls’ educational achievements requires further promotion. Several barriers remain, related to social and cultural norms, cultural insensitivity, the quality of education, lack of motivation and financial factors. Access to governmental initiatives is not equal across the state. However, the enablers are increasing, due to efforts from both government and NGOs. These enablers include role models, adequate infrastructure, well-designed and accessible initiatives, community engagement, and an increasing recognition of the importance of girls’ education. The study further reveals that the NGOs’ initiatives are particularly effective in increasing motivation levels among parents and girls, enhancing girls’ agency as well as providing them with the means to access governmental resources aimed at promoting girls’ education.
Dödligt våld mot äldre: En kvalitativ intervjustudie om det dödliga våldet mot äldre personer i nära relation
(2024-11-07) Franzén, Josefine; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
One of the most serious crimes against human rights is to deprive a person's right to life. In Sweden, 16 people are killed annually by a person they have or have had a relationship with, of which the majority of victims are women. Intimate Partner Homicide is an area that is highlighted both in research and in the media, but when it comes to understanding how deadly violence differs between the age groups and especially when it comes to people over 65, research is limited. This despite the fact that the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare classifies the elderly as a particularly vulnerable group for exposure to violence due to various forms of Ageism and Marginalization. The aim of the study is to investigate the deadly violence against older people over the age of 65, this by interviewing eight people who in their professional role within the police, public agency, civil society organizations, the media and social science research have knowledge and experience about elderly violence and/or Intimate Partner Homicide and analyze the data based on a qualitative thematic analysis method. By applying the theoretical framework of intersectionality, the ecological framework of violence and Ageism, it is possible to understand how different factors collaborate and can increase the risk of violence. The study indicates that the deadly violence and its risk factors are often the same as of the general Intimate Partner Homicide, but that there are specific differences such as several different potential perpetrators, such as adult children and that homicide-suicide is more common among the elderly. Above all, a significant risk of older women being killed is related to the physical and mental health of the victim and/or the perpetrator. But in order to prevent deadly violence against older people, the issue needs to be raised at a societal level, but above all within research. Since the study is based on a limited number of interviews, the study does not intend to provide a comprehensive answer to the phenomenon but contribute to knowledge in an area that today lacks research in the human rights field but also in other disciplines in Swedish research.
“Vi är den skyddsvärda minoriteten”: Hur den svenska radikal- och extremhögern tagit mänskliga rättigheter gisslan
(2024-09-23) Edholm, Carl; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
Recent studies suggests that far right parties in Europe have adopted a liberal and progressive rhetoric to mobilize new voters. These parties have, for example, embraced values such as gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and freedom of speech, values that historically have not been associated with such organizations, raising the question of how they manage to incorporate these values into an otherwise far-right agenda? The parties argue that these rights are jeopardized by immigration from Muslim countries. The research is still in its early phases, and it remains unclear if Swedish far-right parties have adopted these values to the same extent as other European parties. By studying three different parties from a broad ideological spectrum, this study aim to answer if and how these parties have adopted a similar rhetoric. This will be accomplished by analyzing quotes that advocate for equality and freedom based on Human Rights documents. This study employs a thematic analysis developed by Braun and Clarke (2006) along with ideas presented by the French New Right as outlined by Teitelbaum (2017), who suggest that the Swedish far-right draws inspiration from these concepts. The objective is to analyze quotes and other materials from three Swedish parties, namely the cultural nationalist Sverigedemokraterna, the ethnic nationalist Alternativ för Sverige, and the neo-Nazi organization Nordiska motståndsrörelsen, to determine whether similar values are being applied within the Swedish far-right discourse. The findings indicate that the Swedish parties have indeed adopted a rhetoric similar to that of European parties. However, the Swedish far-right appears to place a greater emphasis on arguing that Swedes are at risk due to anti-native acts committed by immigrants. Furthermore, the results suggest that extreme-right parties are more inclined to argue that specific rights are endangered by the state, whereas radical-right parties view excessive immigration as the primary threat. Finally, it was possible to see a connection between ideas developed by The French new right and how the Swedish far right applied a rhetoric based on Human rights.
Förskolans arbete med att förebygga mäns våld mot kvinnor: En kvalitativ studie om förskollärares beskrivningar av förskolans våldsförebyggande arbete utifrån en genusförändrande ansats
(2024-09-23) Härlin, Frida; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
This thesis focuses on how to prevent men’s violence against women by transforming gender norms in preschool. The aim of this study is to, from the perspective of preschool teachers, explore how five Swedish preschools work with violence prevention with a gender transformative perspective. The empirical material consists of interviews with seven preschool teachers in five different preschools, in different areas of Sweden. The preschool teachers had a variation of experience of specific work with violence prevention and/or gender transformation. Based on the empirical material, a thematical analysis was conducted. A gender transformative approach and the concepts of gender norms and hegemonic masculinity, originated from a poststructuralist feminist perspective, are used as a framework to understand and analyze the results. The results show that the preschool teachers use a wide definition of violence and relates largely to a preschool context when discussing which actions that could be defined as violence. Physical aggressions such as hitting and pushing, and psychological aggression such as the use of offensive and hurtful words and glances, are mentioned as examples of violence in a preschool setting. The need for an intention of physical aggression to be defined as violence is questioned, and there is a consensus that the actions rather are a consequence of a lack of tools to handle the situation differently than an intention to hurt. Gender norms that relate to hegemonic masculinity, with a focus on restrictive emotions and authority, are mentioned as problematic in relation to violence. The violence prevention work is largely connected to gender transformative work with a constant reconstruction of gender norms related to hegemonic masculinity, and a maintenance of positive gender norms, and has a focus on every child's right to be themself fully. Self-esteem, identity, emotional competence, integrity and collaboration with parents, are described as important parts of this work. The most important conclusion is that preschool teachers can play an important role in eliminating men’s violence against women by providing all children, regardless of gender, the opportunity to be themselves, learn how to regulate their emotions and respect others personal integrity. This can be done in multiple ways.
Heroines of war: Justice for the women in Kosovo: A qualitative study about the impact of humanitarian NGOs in fighting against gender-based violence in Kosovo
(2024-09-23) Durmishi, Diellza; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
This thesis examines how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) address the recognition of the women survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) during the Kosovo war, exploring their roles as street level bureaucrats and the impact of stigmatization on their work. The thesis gives insights into how NGOs work with individual GBV survivors among stigma, societal attitudes, trauma, struggles with identification, and lack of family support while advocating for their human rights. The analysis and results are based on five semi-structured interviews: four with NGOs and one with a state actor in Kosovo. The qualitative method with a thematic analysis as approach, has been used to analyze the empirical material, employing the theoretical frameworks of stigma and street-level bureaucracy as analytical tools to interpret the results. The findings show that NGOs face stigma from families and communities, challenging interactions with and identification of survivors, leading to increased suffering, isolation, and normalization of GBV. Despite these challenges, the collective efforts of NGOs over decades have fostered public discourses and acknowledgment of GBV survivors. Their advocacy has pressured institutions, resulting in state recognition, legal reforms, and funding for survivor pensions.
Är barnets bästa något annat än barnets delaktighet och respekt för barnets frihetsrättigheter?: En kritisk diskursanalys för att förstå statens och riksdagens språk om barnets bästa
(2024-09-23) Boroumand Jazi, Shadi; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
The best interest of the child is a concept clearly expressed in Swedish legal texts. However, there are still challenges in the Swedish welfare system that lead to neglect and violations of children's rights. This thesis examines how the Swedish government and parliament dealt with the concept of the best interest of the child before and after its incorporation into the Convention on the Rights of the Child, focusing on children's participation in the decision-making process concerning them. In this regard, the state's public investigations, proposals, follow-up motions, and Sweden's periodic reports to the UN committee were analyzed using Fairclough's three-dimensional model to determine how the best interest of the child is constructed and shown in the text. To understand the political and ideological consequences and power relations and to realize the goal of critical discourse analysis, social constructionism theory was needed. Since the essay also aims to find a basis for a common understanding of the concept's interpretation, the socio-cultural theory of development was used, which naturally led to a focus on the concept of the “child’s perspective” in the analysis. The results of this research indicate that the government has the most power in the field of determining the best interest of the child. Although the government aims to promote child interests by incorporating the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it still lacks the political will to define this concept clearly and empower children effectively. On the other hand, power dynamics prevent reforms in the understanding and interpretation of this concept in social structures and creating a balance in times of conflict of interests. Since social structures, including the interpretation of the best interest of the child, change over time based on norms and prevailing power, sociocultural development theory, which aligns with the child's perspective and freedom rights, appears well-suited to adapt according to the child's needs at different times. By starting from the child's perspective, the concept of the child's best interests can be freed from its previous social construction. In this context, sociocultural development theory closely aligns with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and can help foster a common understanding on defining the child's best interests as a legal rule that prescribes a specific action, rather than as a legal principle.
Är skadereduktion en norm inom den svenska narkotikapolitiken?: Debatten om cannabisens legala status
(2024-09-23) Petersson, Emelie; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
The most recent Swedish Drug Commission of Inquiry, grounded in the right to life and the right to health as well as the three international drug conventions, proposed a change in the national objective of drug policy from “a drug-free society” to “a society with reduced harm from drugs”. Harm reduction, closely linked to human rights, shifts focus from criminalization, or the idea of a world without drugs, to primarily trying to reduce the risk of health-related, economic and social harms. This without necessarily demanding individuals to be drug free. In the last decade the debate regarding the decriminalization of cannabis has increasingly been driven by arguments with a focus on harm reduction. By analyzing the Swedish debate on decriminalization of cannabis using content analysis the thesis aims to examine if harm reduction is an established norm within Swedish drug policy. Zinberg’s (1984) theory on drug, set and setting combined with the guidelines on harm reduction related to cannabis put forward by Fisher et.al. (2022) examines references made to harm reduction within the debate. Through the lens of Finnemore and Sikkink’s (1998) theory on the norm life cycle the status of the norm is established. The results suggests that actors representing the pro-decriminalization side of the debate are making arguments with reference to harm reduction. Even so, there is no evidence to suggest that harm reduction is an established norm within Swedish drug policy. It is more likely an emerging norm that might be on the rise and could be seen as a contestant to the current zero tolerance drug policy, which is still considered to be the internalized norm.
Medias makt i samhället: Porträtteringen av muslimer i samband med koranbränningarna i svensk nyhetsmedia mellan åren 2020 - 2023
(2024-09-16) Ewards, Emma; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how the news media frame and represent Muslims in Sweden in relation to the recurring events of Quran burnings in recent years. The main re-sources that the result is based on is from 144 news articles and opinion pieces from four dif-ferent newspapers, Aftonbladet, Göteborgs-Posten, Svenska Dagbladet and Sydsvenskan. To analyse these articles, three types of analytic frameworks are used: the agenda setting theory with focus on framing and priming, orientalism and Habermas philosophic approach to a civic forum for debate and participation. The method was a combination of a quantitative content analysis and a qualitative text analysis with a specific focus on Muslims' interpretive preference in the news articles. Bacchi’s fourth question about what is left unproblematic in the problem representations was also used. The main findings are that there has been a comprehensive news reporting about three different topics, which were identified in three different categorizations: security, freedom of expression and violations. In Security, Muslims were framed as rioters and terrorists con-nected to the Quran burnings. There was also some portrayal of Muslims and imams during the riots as sensible. In the category Freedom of expression, Muslims were framed as having an inability to understand Swedish values such as freedom of expression. Even though Muslims in some cases were portrayed as a vulnerable group, the main findings are that Swedish freedom of expression is portrayed as more fundamental. They were also portrayed as easily offended, when violated. Opinion articles went into more depth on the topics mentioned in the news arti-cles and Muslims did not have a particularly large interpretative advantage.
Children's rights in Swedish judiciary: A qualitative study of the construction of the child's best interest with a particular focus on the child's participation and exposure to violence in court cases.
(2024-09-16) Stojanova, Stefanija; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
The purpose of this study is to investigate the human rights of children in the Swedish judiciary. Specifically, it examines how the child's best interests are constructed and how children's participation and exposure to violence are presented in court cases relating to custody, residence, and contact. The study used a thematic content analysis as its methodological approach, underpinned by the theoretical framework of social constructivist theory. The study identified several themes that influence the construction of the child's best interests, as well as the presentation of children's participation and exposure to violence. However, the findings suggest that this is subject to the court participants' subjective reality, which includes culture and previous experiences, as well as the discourse in which this is determined and whether the language is interpreted. The study concludes that the social constructivist aspect challenges the normative nature of children’s rights, thus suggesting further research that involves this perspective.
Hegemoniska och icke-hegemoniska maskuliniteter - En kritisk diskursanalys av politiska texters och unga mäns perspektiv på våld i utsatta områden
(2024-07-04) Holmgren, Jeanna; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
There is a lack of consensus within politics on how to deal with the so-called youth problem that exists in vulnerable areas. The politicians' positions are communicated in speech and writing and influence the majority society's attitude to children in vulnerable areas. Children are at the same time a vulnerable group in society. They are dependent on adults and need their guidance and support throughout their upbringing. In vulnerable areas live children whose health is affected by social and economic vulnerability and discrimination from the outside world. By looking into how hegemonic masculinity as norms are formulated in Swedish political documents, in relation to experiences of stigmatization and violence among children from vulnerable areas, this study wishes to examine if children’s right to a life without violence is being respected in vulnerable areas. The main sources for the essay are four different political documents and two semi-structured interviews with young men who grew up in vulnerable areas. The analytical framework is intersectionality and social constructionism, with a focus on hegemonic and non-hegemonic masculinity, stigmatization and post-colonialism. The methods applied to analyze the findings were Critical Discourse Analysis, using Norman Fairclough's three-dimensional model. This study compares the politicians' discourses with those of the interviewees and identifies if they challenge the prevailing power relations in society or reproduce them. By studying politicians' messages about youth problems in vulnerable areas and contrasting them with young men's own experiences of stigmatization and violence during their upbringing, this study investigate how masculinity norms, stigmatization and power relations affect children's right to a life without violence in vulnerable areas. The main result is that the political texts make a difference between children's right to a life free from violence in the rest of Sweden and those who live in vulnerable areas. The politicians reproduce discourses in which society's power structure is not challenged. However, those who were interviewed challenged the prevailing discourses by showing evidence of an analytical ability that defied society’s power relations.
"Varför ska vi betala?”: En studie om rätten till bostad i Sverige och kvinnors upplevelser av sina bostäder, området och renoveringar i Lövgärdet.
(2024-05-23) Sjöström, Julia; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
The purpose of this study is to investigate how the process and result of renovations in socioeconomic vulnerable areas affect the residents' right to housing; with a focus on women's experiences of their homes, their area, the housing company's apartment renovations. The study is conducted through two research questions: How do the women in Lövgärdet experience their homes and the area? And how do the women in Lövgärdet experience the process and the result of the renovations of the rental apartments? The methodology used is qualitative research interviews. The empirical material was gathered through qualitative interviews. Eight women living in Lövgärdet have been interviewed. The interviews are coded through thematic analysis. The theoretical framework used as an analytical tool is made up of livability and place attachment as well as human rights-based analysis. The women’s experiences have painted a complex and mixed picture of being pleased with the renovations while worrying about the rent increase and feeling powerless over the situation the livability rate has been shown to be quite low and place attachment has given an insight of the women having a complex relationship with their apartment but in a very loving relationship with the area of Lövgärdet. The human right-based analysis has shown cracks in the right to housing because the women live with feelings of stress and powerlessness and the rent increase is threatening the women's current housing situation.
When reasons to dance are taken away A review of the effect of systematic persecution of the Hazaras on their traditional dance
(2024-03-15) Abdolhadi, Hadi; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
This thesis examines the status of traditional Hazara dances in Afghanistan, which are gradually disappearing as an artistic genre. Anthropological studies highlight that dancing is an essential aspect of human behaviour, serving as a tool for storytelling, self-expression, and forming connections within communities. Dance has several purposes, including celebrating events, conveying emotions, and strengthening social bonds. However, since the Hazaras have been systematically persecuted in Afghanistan, this study aims to explore the impact of persecution on their traditional dances and its consequences. Through ten semi-structured qualitative interviews and using dehumanization, human dignity, and cultural rights perspectives, this study reveals that Hazara traditional dances have been marginalized and disappeared due to state-sponsored dehumanization that violates their human dignity and cultural rights. The findings indicate that the Hazaras' traditional dances were gradually replaced by collective religious mourning ceremonies after the community became the target of mass killings and ethnic cleansing policies between 1891-1893 to preserve their social cohesions.
“Mäns våld mot kvinnor ska upphöra” En kritisk diskursanalys av Sveriges nationella våldsförebyggande program på området mäns våld mot kvinnor (2022)
(2024-03-15) Abdulahad, Gabriella; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
Combating men’s violence against women has long been on the political agenda in Sweden and has intensified over the years. A national violence prevention program in the area of men’s violence against women has been in place since June 2022. The government presents its program and measures, outlining the direction in which society should change, and marks which ideas and arguments are considered legitimate in the public sphere. This essay aims to use critical discourse analysis to examine the extent to which the national violence prevention program (2022) contributes to and maintains hegemonic masculinity and gender power relations. To achieve this goal, the essay identifies examples of (1) gender-neutral language, (2) the invisibility of women and men, and (3) elements that shift focus away from gender relations/hierarchies in the program. The concepts of gender, hegemonic masculinity, and gender order were present, with hegemonic masculinity and gender order serving as the underlying discourses behind the codes. The conclusion that can be drawn is that the program discussed men’s violence against women using gender-neutral terminology, which includes both men and women as victims and perpetrators. This approach results in women’s victim role being diminished and made invisible, while men’s practice of violence is diminished and not held accountable. This in turn hides the actual gender distribution of intimate partner violence. The impact of the children’s perspective, which was also discussed in the program, can be compared to the use of gender-neutral terminology. It can be perceived as a method to direct attention past the gender conflict and avoid addressing the power dynamics that exist between the sexes. The national violence prevention program also paid attention to honor-related violence and oppression. Honor-related violence and oppression are presented as culturally conditioned, rather than explained based on notions of masculinity and power order. Finally, it can be stated that an interpretation of the presented data indicates that violence is perceived as a challenge for the whole society to a greater extent than only as a matter of equality and women’s human rights.
Marginalisation of bisexual asylum seekers: a discourse analysis of Swedish case law
(2024-03-15) Olstedt, Matilda; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
Bisexual individuals are often construed as ‘half homosexuals’, and thus seen as less vulnerable to sexual minority intolerance and persecution. According to bisexuality scholars, however, bisexual individuals are subjected to double discrimination, as they are marginalised both by the heteronormative society and the homosexual minority group. Yoshino (2000) offers the theory of the epistemic contract of bisexual erasure, according to which heterosexuals and homosexuals erase bisexuals on a class level, individual level, or through delegitimating language and representations. Yoshino’s theory has, for example, been employed to explain why bisexual individuals seem particularly vulnerable in refugee determination contexts. Previous research suggests that bisexual asylum seekers have reduced chances of being granted refugee status protection, which further implies that they are highly exposed to both discrimination and persecution. In this thesis, a discourse analysis was conducted to analyse if, how, and to what extent the three strategies of bisexual erasure are present in Swedish case law on sexual orientation asylum. Combining a quantitative content analysis and a qualitative text analysis, the thesis shows that the Swedish migration authorities construe bisexuality as an insubstantial subcategory of homosexuality. Furthermore, the analysis found that asylum seekers with an ascribed or implied bisexual identity tend to be re-interpreted as monosexuals, and may also be represented through negative stereotypes. All three erasure strategies were thus present in the Swedish refugee case law. The findings imply that bisexual marginalisation has considerable inter-contextual and temporal durability in asylum settings, and that the phenomenon is deeply ingrained in Sweden’s government institutions and normative structures. This study thus suggests that a profound re-examination and rectification of Sweden’s national heteronormativity is needed, in order to grant a more fair treatment of bisexual asylum seekers.
Mäns våld mot kvinnor i nära relationer - En kvalitativ intervjustudie om socialsekreterares upplevelser av att arbeta med våldsutsatta kvinnor
(2024-03-15) Melander, Linda; University of Gothenburg/School of Global Studies; Göteborgs universitet/Institutionen för globala studier
Men`s violence against women is a global problem and it is something that has existed for many years. It is a problem that many human rights organizations highlight and that the Women`s Convention works to abolish all forms of discrimination against women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore what social workers experience working with women who are exposed to violence in close relationships. By examine how the social workers help the abused women it can give an insight in how the work looks like, but also how it can be improved. Social workers must follow the guidelines found in the work, but they also have room for actions. It is therefore interesting to interview the social workers to get a picture of how they experience the work, because it can be difficult to work with the existing guidelines at the same time that the social workers have to meet the needs of the clients. To answer the aim of the study following questions were added: How do social workers experience the work with women who are exposed to violence in intimate relations and what do they think can be improved? How do the social workers relate to the guidelines and the discretion that they have in their work? How do the social workers describe their emotions in meeting with the clients and how can it be understood based on the sociology of emotions? The study was based on a qualitative research method with the use of six interviews with social workers from the west part of Sweden and the interviews was analyzed with the help of a thematic analysis. The theoretical framework was added to the study to help the analysis of the interviews with the use of the central concepts such as: street-level bureaucrats and social emotions theory. The results shows that the social workers feel that they have a lot of room for actions based on the guidelines they must follow. However, not all social workers stated that their workplace has functioning guidelines and routines in their workplace. Shortcomings emerged based on the social workers stories and they described several factors that could have improved their work with abused women. They also described that their work can affect them and meeting abused women can be difficult and complex.

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