Det handlar inte om storleken, dety är styrka. En kvalitativ intervjustudie om hur våldsanvändande tjejer förhåller sig till svårförenliga identiteter som våldsutövare och tjej

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to study girl's narratives about violence, what their use of violence looks like and how the girls talk about violence they are engaged in. This study concentrates on how girls that use violence relate to their inclusion in a structure where there are pre-created images, and set standards of what it means to be a girl and use violence. The aim is to explore how girls portray themselves through stories about violence they used and that is present in their surroundings. The theoretical framework thas is used in this study is focused on gender, J Messerschmidts structured action theory, a view on gender as situational bad girl femininity, and techniques of neutralization. The data consists of interviews wiht eight grils from age 17 to 30. Three of the interviews have been performed individually and two are carried out in group with two or three girls together. Through the narratives pictures of girls with decisiveness and power to act emerges. They demonstrate opposition to stereotypical images of girls and violence and make a claim to be viewed as acting agents who hold courage and strength. The girls neutralize their actions, defuse guilt but also take positions as actors. They emphasize girls´ capaciyies to use violence, and seek an acceptance for the practice. They relate with ambivalence to the role as perpetrator of violence and demonstrate awareness of the morally questionable actions that they take part in. This thesis concludes that the girls are balancing the contradictory identities as girls and user of violence.