Rätt till hälsa efter sexuellt våld: En kvalitativ undersökning om unga kvinnor med migrantbakgrund och deras erfarenheter

Abstract

Health is a universal human right, and in contrast sexual violence is a human rights violation, which affects millions of women globally. Thus, numerous United Nation conventions condemns sexual violence and demands that states provide sufficient health care for victims, as the violation uphold gender inequality in societies and has a negative impact on women’s health. Even in an industrialized and high-income country as Sweden, the healthcare services are not equal, as intersectional factors such as gender, age, migratory background, and ethnicity play a part in which barriers one encounters when seeking care. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to analyze which barriers and difficulties young women with migratory background in Sweden experience when seeking healthcare after sexual violence, including their rights. The thesis uses a qualitative approach by interviewing both victims of sexual assault and professionals who works with victims. The empirical material is analyzed through suitable concepts, which are based on feminist, phenomenological and anthropological theories. The result illustrates numerous challenges to obtain the right to health after sexual violence. This includes fears of experiencing prejudice, sexism, and racism, which limits the women’s view of rights and agency, as well as the quality of care they receive, due to structural violence, structural discrimination, and secondary victimization. This, in turn, may lead to self-shame, stigma, and cultural misunderstandings. Interviews with the professionals who work with victims of sexual violence indicates that the Swedish society contributes to structuring a healthcare system where victims with other cultural background than the normative, tends to be blamed for the crime. This results in less-than-ideal care for those who are not the so-called “perfect victim”. Another barrier is a lack of knowledge, which is prevalent among both the victims as well as caregivers. Therefore, the thesis argues for caregivers to receive training in cultural competence and a transcultural perspective, to provide a better suited care and to inform the victims about their rights. Most important, with a more holistic view of healthcare and rights, the women would be better understood and able to feel comfortable to talk about their issues and their needs, and to be seen for who they are – regardless of their cultural background. As the victims may face issues and problems regarding their family’s reaction to the sexual violence, caregivers are in a unique position to ensure victims right to health.