The master thesis is focused on policy design identification in relation to trans people in the Czech Republic in the time period 2012 - 2020. The work uses the theory of Social Construction of Target Population (TSKCP) written by authors Schneider and Ingram. The goal of this paper is to describe three main elements of TSKCP: content of public policy, political power of the target population and its social construction. Based on this, the paper aims to classify the target group of trans people according to the typology of the theory used. For the purpose of this paper, five interviews with respondents were conducted and especially statements of experts as well as analysis of public policy documents are the key parts for answering the research question. Next, analysis of more than seventy online articles related to the examined population within the given time frame was conducted, thanks to which the question of how trans people are constructed in the Czech internet media was answered. There were two main kategories as an outcome of this analysis, including a more detailed explanation. The work also brings in its results the identification of benefits and burdens that arise for the examined target population from the legislative setting.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka skolors och skolkuratorers arbete med att uppmärksamma, förebygga och motverka hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck. Intervjuer genomfördes med sex skolkuratorer i en kvalitativ intervjustudie. Resultatet visade varierande erfarenheter gällande skolans arbete med och kunskap om problematiken. En stor del av skolkuratorerna beskrev en avsaknad av en handlingsplan och riktade insatser specifikt mot hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck medan ett fåtal beskrev ett mer utvecklat och inriktat arbete mot problematiken. Mänskliga rättigheter och barnkonventionen visade sig vara grundläggande beståndsdelar i det förebyggande och motverkande arbetet och att kunskap och relationen till eleven är av vikt för att kunna uppmärksamma och upptäcka problematiken. Samverkan, organisatoriska faktorer samt sociala konstruktioner ansågs påverka handlingsutrymmet och arbetet med hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck. Resultatet visade även ett behov av ständig kompetensutveckling samt att det förebyggande och motverkande arbetet alltid måste utvecklas och uppdateras. / The aim of the study was to examine how schools and school counselors pay attention to, prevent and counteract honour related violence and oppression. Six school counselors were interviewed in a qualitative study. Results showed varying experiences regarding the school’s work with and knowledge of the problem. A majority described a lack of an action plan and specific interventions against honour related violence and oppression while a few described a focused work against the problem. Human rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child were fundamental components of the preventive and counteracting work and that knowledge and the relationship with the student are important to be able to pay attention to and identify the problem. Collaboration, organizational factors and social constructions affected the work and discretion. The results demonstrate a need for constant competence development and that preventive and counteracting work must always be developed and updated.

My diploma thesis deals with the relationship and more specifically with the boundaries and inequalities between scientific medicine and alternative medicine from the constructionistic and interactionistic point of view. It explores how the boundaries are constructed by the representatives of biomedicine on one side and the representatives of alternative medicine on the other side. This thesis is based on a qualitative research - semi-standardised interviews with members of both systems of medicine. The state and the role of alternative medicine in czech setting is presented to the reader and the construction of boundaries in this context is explored. The thesis shows that the representatives of biomedicine build boundaries mainly based on moral aspects, while the representatives of alternative medicine have larger and more varied repertoire of boundaries. The fact is probably given by structural conditions and the role of alternative medicine - while the representatives of biomedicine "only" want to maintain the status quo, the representatives of alternative medicine struggle to change their situation, which requires bigger effort.

The master thesis Global terrorism and the media as the means of communication focuses on examining the relationship between terrorist organisations and the news media which play a key role in planning terrorist attacks. The author assumes that a better understanding of the mutual relationship within the communication process requires the engagement of other players into the research as well: the government and the public. Their mutual interdependence is illustrated on the abstract model from which the author, afterwards, deduces the factors which influence relationships between all the players.

Denna studie behandlar fallet Bosnien, specifikt kriget i Bosnien på 90-talet och syftar till att undersöka hur social konstruktion och identitetspolitik påverkade den enskilda individens samt användes som maktmedel i Fausta Marianovics berättelse från kriget. Jag har alltså undersökt Fausta Marianovics självbiografi med Kenneth J. Gergens syn på social konstruktivism och identitetspolitik som huvudsaklig teoretisk utgångspunkt och narrativ analys med hjälp av biografiforskning som metod. I denna studie är det inte möjligt att komma fram till någon definitiv sanning men resultaten visar att den sociala konstruktionen och identitetspolitiken speglas som en stor del i vad som hände i Bosnien utifrån Fausta Marianovics berättelse samt att hennes egen upplevelse också påverkades.

This research is conducted within a postmodern and social construction discourse and in context of narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy. It has been influenced by the voices of five contextual theologies: a participatory approach to practical theology, narrative, contextual, feminist and liberation theologies. The participatory action research seeks to highlight how narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy with children at Mary Ward Children’s Home, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe creates an inclusive and caring community. It argues that though residential childcare facilities/children’s homes are considered the last resort in the childcare system, we are witnessing not their demise but their development due to the increased numbers of AIDS-orphans and other vulnerable children in our society. The research aims were:  To develop inclusive narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practices at the home.  To co-create narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practices that respect the knowledges of the children involved.  To develop an eco-spirituality as participatory pastoral care and therapy practice.  To explore and co-author creative practices of doing narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practices which will help the participants integrate into the Home and society. In conclusion, suggestions are made for a narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practice that is inclusive and caring. In terms of the experience of children living with disability and experiencing loss, as well as those children who have been abused, it is specifically described as therapeutic, empowering and life-giving. Therefore, home managers, caregivers and pastoral therapists are invited into an ethical and passionate practice of pastoral care and therapy that has the potential to transform the lives of children in a residential child care facility. / Thesis (D. Th. (Practical Theology))

The aim of this paper is to explain the policy process of regional social service development strategies in the area of services for drug users. The process is explained on examination of two cases of very diverse regional strategies representing good and bad practice. Social construction of target populations is used as a theoretical framework and the research aims to verify and develop its theoretical assumptions. Subjective perceptions of key actors are deconstructed through public document analysis and in- depth interviews. Service providers are perceived as a trustworthy and competent policy actor and as such they play an important role in the development of medium-term strategy. The prevailing positive construction of drug users by providers and the strong position of service providers contribute to broad distribution of services for drug users in both examined regions. The main difference between the cases is explained by different perception of drug users by the public, different continuity of planning processes, and variance in the dynamic relationship between public opinion and key public policy makers.

The aim of this paper is to explain the policy process of regional social service development strategies in the area of services for drug users. The process is explained on examination of two cases of very diverse regional strategies representing good and bad practice. Social construction of target populations is used as a theoretical framework and the research aims to verify and develop its theoretical assumptions. Subjective perceptions of key actors are deconstructed through public document analysis and in- depth interviews. Service providers are perceived as a trustworthy and competent policy actor and as such they play an important role in the development of medium-term strategy. The prevailing positive construction of drug users by providers and the strong position of service providers contribute to broad distribution of services for drug users in both examined regions. The main difference between the cases is explained by different perception of drug users by the public, different continuity of planning processes, and variance in the dynamic relationship between public opinion and key public policy makers.

Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att undersöka konstruktionen av gängkriminalitet och gängkriminella genom att analysera hur diskursen lyder på det svenska diskussionsforumet Flashback. Den metodologiska ansatsen har därmed varit konstruktivistisk. Studiens syfte är att öka förståelsen för detta sociala problem och bidra med insyn till det sociala arbetets praktik. Genom en tematisk analys av det empiriska materialet som har utgjorts av sex diskussionstrådar från Flashback har vi identifierat tre övergripande teman. Dessa har döpts till: Hur konstrueras orsakerna till gängkriminalitet, Hur konstrueras lösningarna till gängkriminalitet och The Spiral of Silence. Resultaten som varit mest framträdande visar att diskussionerna på Flashback kopplar starkt till främlingsfientlighet och invandringsfrågor. Invandringen diskuteras nästan uteslutande när det pratas om gängkriminalitet, och det finns en tydlig koppling mellan gängkriminalitet, gängkriminella och invandrare i diskussionstrådarna. Studien visar även att rasistiska strukturer spelar en betydande roll i konstruktionen av gängkriminalitet och gängkriminella. Resultaten visar också avhumanisering genom bland annat kränkande språk och föreställningar om “den andre”. Med den sammantagna empirin som grund vill vi i diskussionskapitlet betona att försiktighet bör iakttas när man talar om gängkriminalitet och att det inte kan reduceras till en specifik etnicitet eller ras, utan beror på individuella, sociala och ekonomiska faktorer. Vi diskuterar även vikten av att som blivande socionomer vara medvetna om de maktförhållanden som råder för att inte riskera att vidmakthålla och återskapa förtryck och ojämlikhet. Därtill är det ytterst viktigt att vi som socionomer är vaksamma för att inte förbise underliggande faktorer till gängkriminalitet, något som bättre kan åstadkommas genom ökad kunskap och medvetenhet. / The purpose of this essay is to examine the construction of gang crime and gang criminals by analyzing the discourse on the Swedish discussion forum Flashback. The methodological approach has thus been constructivist. The aim of the study is to increase the understanding of this social problem and contribute with transparency to the practice of social work. Through a thematic analysis of the empirical material consisting of six discussion threads from Flashback, we have identified three overarching themes. These have been named: How to Construct the Causes of Gang Crime, How to Construct the Solutions to Gang Crime and The Spiral of Silence. The results that have been the most prominent show that the discussions on Flashback strongly connect to xenophobia and immigration issues. Immigration is discussed almost exclusively when talking about gang crime, and there is a clear connection between gang crime, gang criminals and immigrants in the discussion threads. The study also shows that racist structures play a significant role in the construction of gang crime and gang criminals. The results also showdehumanization through, among other things, offensive language and ideas about “the other”. With the collected empirical evidence as a basis, we want to emphasize in the discussion chapter that caution should be exercised when talking about gang crime and that it cannot be reduced to a specific ethnicity or race, but depends on individual, social and economic factors. We also discuss the importance for future social workers to be aware of the power relations that prevail in order not to risk perpetuating and recreating oppression and inequality. In addition, it is extremely important that we as social workers are vigilant not to overlook underlying factors to gang crime, something that can be better achieved through increased knowledge and awareness.

I denna studie har begrepp kopplat till psykisk ohälsa studerats utifrån uttryck i svenska underhållningspoddar. Syftet är att studera begreppens förekomst och innebörd samt att problematisera den begreppsliga användningen i vardagliga samtal. Vidare analyseras skillnader i hur kvinnor och män uttrycker sig kring begrepp som är kopplade till psykisk ohälsa. Studien har med inspiration från diskurspsykologiska och begreppsanalytiska metoder behandlat begrepp kopplat till psykisk ohälsa enligt följande teman: stress, ångest och oro, diagnostiska begrepp, övriga psykologiska begrepp, suicid och trauma. Resultatet visar att begreppen nämns i varierande grad i alla analyserade poddar och med förhållande­vis högre förekomst i poddar med endast kvinnor i jämförelse med endast män eller med både män och kvinnor. Vissa begrepp används mer frekvent än andra där exempelvis ångest och oro samt stress och diagnostiska begrepp används i högre grad än begreppen suicid och trauma. Begrepp kopplat till psykisk ohälsa används främst för att förstärka känslor samt beskriva beteenden och händelser snarare än att beskriva faktiska symptom på psykisk ohälsa. Detta gör att begreppen blir förändrade i sin innebörd vilket riskerar att skapa förvrängda sociala föreställningar om psykisk ohälsa. Begrepps­användningen kan därav problematiseras utifrån dess potentiella konsekvenser för individen, samhället och det sociala arbetet, där slutsatsen är att språket är avgörande för att förstå och förmedla psykisk ohälsa. / This study examines how concepts linked to mental illness have been expressed in Swedish entertainment podcasts. The purpose is to study the occurrence and meaning of the concepts and to problematize the conceptual use in everyday conversations. Furthermore, differences are analyzed in how women and men express themselves with concepts linked to mental illness. With inspiration from discourse psychology and concept analytical methods, the study has treated concepts linked to mental illness according to the following themes: stress, anxiety and unease, diagnostic concepts, other psychological concepts, suicide and trauma. The results show that the concepts are expressed to varied degrees in all analyzed podcasts and with a relatively higher occurrence in podcasts with only women compared to only men or with both men and women. Certain concepts are used more frequently than others, for example, anxiety and unease as well as stress and diagnostic concepts are used to a greater extent than the concepts of suicide and trauma. Concepts linked to mental illness are mainly used to amplify feelings and describe behaviors and events rather than describing actual symptoms of mental illness. This causes the concepts to change in their meaning, which risks creating distorting social ideas about mental illness. The use of the concept can therefore be problematized based on its potential consequences for the individual, society and social work, where the conclusion is that language is crucial for understanding and perceiving mental illness.