The aim of this study is to investigate accessibility in visual paratexts of picturebooks in relation to color blindness, to identify qualities that fulfill criterias for accessibility and functionality. The number of children with color blindness is greater than shown in statistics. Color is widely used in preschools and not percieving color correctly can be misinterpreted as difficulties in learning or concentration, indicating the importance of accessible use of color in media that children interact with. The study is conducted within a theoretical framework in which the concepts of design-for-all and visual paratext are central. Previous research on picturebooks as a medium for teaching as well as children’s development provides an additional theoretical foundation for answering the research questions: how do contemporary picturebooks correspond to criterias for color accessibility and functionality – and how can picturebooks be made accessible for colorblind children without losing functional qualities? The study is carried out with qualitative research methods in two case studies, based on analysis and systematic observations of the visual paratexts in four picturebooks, two of which are explicitly marketed as ‘accessible’ whilst the remaining two are not. Having identified and assessed qualities of the visual paratexts, results show that the ‘accessible’ picturebooks overall did not fulfill accessibility nor functionality criterias, while the other two had significantly higher qualities in functionality. In conclusion, beneficial qualities were use of high contrast, tactile and graphic textures, expressive faces, as well as the use of blues and yellows.

This study examines what seems a lack of representation of non-white art and artists within the visual arts class in the Swedish secondary education, and what possible consequences that could have for people of color who do not fit the mold of being Swedish due to their non- white appearance. The empirical data have been obtained through a survey, former research of articles, and available literature from the critical race theoretical field. Results show that a reproduction of a canon of whiteness is being passed down through generations of art teachers with little to no sign of breaking its pattern. From the survey sent out to visual arts teacher students, findings show a hidden place [read the Arts/Science Class in Secondary Education] within the educational institutions where racism unremarked continues to strive through phenomenon ́s like; color-blindness and white hegemony.

This dissertation focuses on the geographical area of Malmö, the third largest city in Sweden, and examines the majority society’s opinions and attitudes toward interracial dating, marriage and childbearing. The dissertation is driven by two theoretical frames: the theory of race as ideas constructed through the perception of visible differences and the theory of prejudice and stereotypes. Mixed methods have been chosen as a means of exploring people’s attitudes toward interracial relationships. Quantitative data was collected by means of an attitude survey and the qualitative data was collected by means of follow-up interviews with some of the respondents who participated in the survey. The study shows that although their attitudes vary depending on the different groups in question, the majority of the respondents and interviewees could imagine getting involved in interrelationships and would not react negatively if a family member got involved in such a relationship. The quantitative results address the importance of intimate contacts, in other words having friends of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in having more positive attitudes toward interracial dating, marriage and childbearing. Age, gender, education and the place of upbringing also affects people’s attitudes. The qualitative inquiry probes the reasoning behind the survey results and points to the complicated relations between individual attitudes and the sense of group position. The interviewees’ words depict color-blind ways of talking about attitudes toward interracial marriage and different groups. Ideas of race emerge in this color-blind reasoning and the role of visible difference is highlighted both through the quantitative and qualitative inquiries. / Denna avhandling granskar majoritetssamhällets åsikter och attityder till “interracial marriage and relationships” (blandäktenskap och annan blandrelation). Populationen för denna granskning är ett representativt urval av befolkningen i Malmö, Sveriges tredje största stad. Studien drivs främst av två teoretiska inriktningar. Den ena är teorin om “race” (ras) som innebär att race är tankar och idéer som väcks utifrån fysiska och synliga skillnader hos olika grupper. Den andra är teorin om fördomar och stereotyper. Metoden som använts för att undersöka befolkningsmajoritetens attityder är “mixed methods”. Den kvantitativa enkätstudien följs upp med kvalitativa intervjuer till en del av de svarande. Studien visar att även om det finns variationer i val av preferenser beroende på vilken grupp det handlar om, kan majoriteten av respondenterna i enkäten och intervjupersonerna tänka sig att leva i blandäktenskap eller i annan blandrelation. Majoriteten svarar också att de inte skulle reagera negativt om någon i familjen väljer att leva i ett sådant förhållande. Resultaten från den kvantitativa undersökningen tyder på ett starkt samband mellan att ha vänner med olika etnisk bakgrund och i att vara mer positiv till blandäktenskap och blandrelation. Ålder, kön, utbildningsnivå och var man är uppväxt påverkar också attityderna. Den kvalitativa undersökningen utforskar resonemangen bakom resultaten från enkäten och avslöjar en komplicerad relation mellan individers attityder och känslan av grupposition. Intervjupersonernas ordval och uttryckssätt reflekterar ett “färgblint” sätt att tala om attityder till blandäktenskap och olika grupper. I resonemangen bakom färgblindhet framkommer i både enkäten och intervjuerna tankar och idéer om “race” (ras) och betydelsen av fysiska och synliga skillnader hos olika grupper.

Detta arbete undersöker hur Riksdagspartiernas uttalanden om religion kan tänkas påverkareligiösa elever i skolan. I huvudsak har tre teorier används: Bronfenbrenners ekologiskasystemteori, Saids teori om Det Annorlunda och Goffmans teori om stigma. Arbetet hargjorts som en textanalys, där material från partierna samlats in och sedan analyserats.Frågeställningarna som guidat arbetet är: ● Kan Riksdagspartierna bidra till stigmatiseringen av religiösa elever?○ Vilka direkta och indirekta budskap finns i partiernas textproduktion gällandereligion och religiösa människor? Undersökningen visar att problemet är väldigt komplext, och att ett enkelt svar inte går attutröna. Det finns dock ett tydligt samband mellan Riksdagspartiernas uttalanden och religiösaelevers vardag i skolan, samt mellan detta arbetes resultat och den tidigare forskningen.