Sweden's gender equality work has historically been a success in many ways, but honour-based violence and oppression is not debated or identified as a Swedish social problem. What is the effect of differentiating between different social problems that fall into the same category? The present thesis aims to deepen the understanding of how men's violence against women is understood at a time when Sweden is considered to be in the forefront of gender equality policy issues. The present thesis therefore examines how honour-based violence and oppression is defined in Sweden, and how Swedish authorities work to prevent and combat the violence. By examining the image of victims of honour-based violence, on which the definition and the work are based, power dynamics within the discourse are also made visible. By using critical discourse analysis as a method and by using theoretical concepts, two government reports on honour-based violence and oppression in Sweden, and a handbook aimed at professionals in the school system are analyzed. The present thesis shows that the Swedish authorities' definition makes a distinction between honour-based violence and oppression, and men's violence against women. It is mainly explained as a problem based on culture, unlike men's violence against women, which is described as a social problem. This is made visible by Swedish authorities through a focus on foreigners in the work of preventing and combating honour-based violence. The definition and the work analyzed in the present thesis contribute to making it more difficult for victims of honour-based violence to identify themselves as "Swedish". Throughout the texts there is a stereotypical image of both victims and perpetrators of violence as being foreigners: people with dark colored hair and dark colored eyes. It is important to analyze and problematize how Swedish authorities choose to express themselves but also how they choose not to. In this way, we can critically examine how authorities contribute to the construction of a social reality and also reproduce unequal power dynamics in society.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the guidelines, methods and strategies of social workers supporting children and young people who live with honour-related problems – in order to deepen the knowledge of tensions between the guidelines of social work and its practices. The result of the study has emerged from qualitative interviews with six social workers working with children and young people and three local authority documents containing guidelines and routines. The social workers were asked questions about their experiences of guidelines and routines and their current work situation. To analyse and understand the results a thematic method was used along with theories on discretion. The result shows that social workers use different assessment manuals in order to assess that a child/young person is exposed to honour-related problems, but their experience is that the manuals are not complete and adapted to children and young people who live with honour-related problems. Therefore, many social workers have a discretion, where they can take available methods and adapt them to the honour-related cases. The social workers have several different voluntary and family-oriented interventions to offer, but in honour-related cases the interventions are not optimal. The social workers experience difficulties with working with the families of children and young people with honour-related problems because they are not receptive to change, which was the first tension that could be identified. The overall experience of the interviewed social workers regarding honour-related cases shows that their work is complex in relation to laws, guidelines and methods. Thereby another tension was discovered in the result and analysis between forced interventions relating to the laws and guidelines and principles of the child's best interests. The social worker experiences are that it is difficult to motivate forced interventions as it does not always improve the situation of the child.

Genom en närläsning av släktkrönikan Till minne av en villkorslöskärlek, analyserar denna uppsats hur det patriarkala samhället begränsar huvudkaraktären Ingegärd Rasmussen. Med utgångspunkt i Yvonne Hirdmans teori om genusskapande samt Lois Tysons feministiska teori och litteraturkritik, presenterar jag de rådande könsroller, könsnormer samt genusordningar som begränsar Ingegärd Rasmussen under hela hennes livstid. Hennes normbrytande och normföljande beteende, resulterar i att hon aldrig riktigt lyckas befria sig från patriarkatets begränsningar. / Through a close reading of the family chronicle In memory of an unconditional love, this essay analyzes how the patriarchal society limits the main character Ingegärd Rasmussen. Based on Yvonne Hirdman's theory of gender creation and Lois Tyson's feminist theory and literary criticism, I present the prevailing gender roles, gender norms and gender arrangements that limit Ingegärd Rasmussen throughout her life. Her norm-breaking and norm-following behavior results in her never really succeeding in freeing herself from the limitations of patriarchy.

Våld i nära relation och hedersrelaterat våld och förtyck är ett samhällsproblem där det finns en kunskapslucka kring analyser av policydokument på kommunal nivå. Kunskapsluckan gäller främst analys kring hanteringen av ärenden gällande hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck inom kommunens socialtjänst. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck framställs i kommunala handlingsplaner och vilka de potentiella effekterna av detta kan bli för individ och samhälle. Resultatet i studien bygger på analysen av tre kommuners handlingsplaner gällande hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck. Metoden som använts för att analysera policydokument är Bacchi´s kritiska analysmetod (WPR). Handlingsplanerna som analyserats är från tre kommuner med olika befolkningsmängd i olika delar av SVerige eftersom det finns skillnader i kommuners uppbyggnad, resurser och deras arbete med hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck. Skillnaden gäller främst hur mycket resurser kommunen har till förfogande, befolkningsmängd samt möjlighetet till samverkan med andra myndigheter. Studien visar på att hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck framställs på liknande sätt men att det även finns viktiga skillnader i kommunernas policydokument. Resultatet visar att hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck framställs som ett patriarkalt normsystem, kvinnor och flickor beskrivs som målgrupp och gärningspersonen som man. Det framställs även att HRVF till viss del beskrivs som ett kulturellt och kollektivt problem. Det finns vissa skillnader i handlingsplanernas framställning av HRVF, tillexempel i kopplingen mellan HRVF och det kollektiva. / Violence in a close relationship and honor-related violence and oppression is a societal problem where there is a knowledge gap around analyzes of policy documents at the municipal level. The knowledge gap mainly applies to analysis of the handling of cases concerning honor-related violence and oppression within the municipality´s social services. The expectation with the study is to be able to contribute to filling part of this knowledge gap and to generate even more research on this current topic in society. The purpose of the study is thus to investigate how honor-related violence and oppression is presented in municipal action plans and to discuss what the potential effects of this can be for the individual and society. The results of the study are based on the analysis of three municipalities action plans regarding honor-related violence and opression. The method used to analyze policy documents is Bacchi´s Critical Analysis Method (WPR). The material analyzed consists of three municipalities with different populations in different parts of Sweden because there are differences in the minicipalities structure, resources and their work with honor relate violence. The different mainly concern how much resources the municipality has at its disposal, population and opportunity for collaboration with other authorities. The study shows that honor-related violence and oppression are presented in a similar way but there are also important differences in the municipalities policy documents. The results show that honor-related violence and oppression is presented as a patriarchal norm system, women and girls are described as the terget group and the prepetrator as a man. It is also stated that HRVF is to some extent described as a cultural and collective problem. There are some differences in the action plans presentation of HRVF, for example in the connection between HRVF and the collective.

The honor killing of Fadime Sahindal in 2002 sparked a debate in Swedish media about honor-related violence and oppression. As a professional social worker, it is important to have knowledge in the field to help young women who are exposed to honor-related violence and oppression. The aim of this study is to analyze the working methods and attitudes of social workers and their discretion in the work of honor-oppressed young women. The study is based on six qualitative interviews conducted with professional social workers. Through the interviews, the social workers' experiences, thoughts and opinions about the social service's way of working with honored young women were highlighted. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis and interpreted by the theory of honor and discretion. The results show that social workers do not have the right knowledge about honor problems and that they do not have the right tools to meet these young women who are exposed to violence and oppression.

This essay investigates how Philip Guston and Henry Taylor explore the subject of African American oppression in their art and how they have been received by critics and art institutions. Using semiotics based on Hans Haydens article “Den omplacerade koden: Om Edgar Degas Interiör”, this essay explores how meaning is created in signs existing within the respective artists’ works. Readings of the artists´ own words has also assisted in the search for meaning and understanding of the paintings. Postcolonial perspectives were also applied for the means of interpreting the artworks in question, and the signs they contain. For this section Ania Loombas book Colonialism/postcolonialism as well as Åsa Bharathi Larsons doctorate thesis Colonizing Fever have been utilized.        After the visual analysis the essay investigates how the artists have been received by critics and art institutions. In the case of Guston, a time difference is also accounted for, analyzing how his work was received when he first presented his paintings in the 70’s compared to today. Upon analyzing Guston’s work multiple signs were identified and interpreted. Most notably the hooded Klan member, whose representative purpose is multifaceted, communicative of subjects such as racism, guilt, and the concept of being evil. Visual codes regarding self-portraiture also pointed at one of the paintings as being a self-portrait. This theory is also supported by Guston’s own claim of the Klan paintings being pictures of himself.        In Taylors work, signs present and discuss oppression of black people in America from a historical as well as a contemporary perspective, often referencing people and places personal to Taylor.        In the 1970’s Philip Guston’s Klan paintings were heavily critiqued for their visual qualities and stylistic expression, while no notable comments were made of the content/subject matter. Today the situation is different, with the main critique of his works being directed to his use of Klan imagery. Many artists and writers today are in support of Gustons work though.         Henry Taylor’s paintings are generally well received by critics and have seen a rise in popularity concurrent with the Black Lives Matter movement. Taylor has also recently been the subject of a retrospective exhibition at the Modern Museum of Contemporary art in LA.

Projektet utforskar rådande maktbalans mellan staden och landsbygden, och riktar kritik åt den dominerande urbana normen. Ur en sarkastisk vinkel implementeras kasinot som medel för landsbygden att hävda sig mot staden i en värld styrd av kapital. Kasinot används som en symbol för den kapitaldrivna och ofta moraliskt ifrågasättbara världsutvecklingen, och genom denna allusion söker projektet ifrågasätta i vilken utsträckning målet om tillväxt kan tillåtas helga de allt mer extrema medel som används för att nå dit. Projektets tematik utvecklades som ett svar på det av skolan ställda kravet att rita en hybridbyggnad innehållandes ett folkets hus och ett egenvalt plusprogram omfattande totalt 2000 kvadratmeter på landsbygden i Nynäshamns kommun. Då den största delen av produktraffineringen som tidigare skedde i Sorunda, där projektet tar plats, har tvingats lägga ner på grund av centralisering uppstod en svårighet att finna ett trovärdigt plusprogram som kunde ge skäl för ett folkets hus. Då orten dessutom drabbas kraftigt av av den ökade lastbilstrafiken som Stockholm stads omläggning av Frihamnen till Nynäshamn har gett upphov till kom frågan om urban norm att hamna i fokus, och projektet att kretsa kring landsbygdens möjligheter att parasitera på samma maktförhållanden som den förtrycks av. / This project explores the current power dynamic between urban and rural, and aims to critique the domineering urban norm. From a sarcastic point of view the casino is implemented as a means for the countryside to assert power over the city in a world ruled by capital. The casino is used as a symbol for the capital-driven and often morally questionable world development. Through this allusion the project seeks to question to what extent the goal of growth should be allowed to justify the ever more extreme means used to achieve this end. The thematic of the project was developed as an answer to the schools requirement to design a hybrid building containing a peoples house and a self chosen plus-programme to an extent of 2000 metres squared in Nynäshamn municipality. As most of the product refinement that used to exist in Sorunda, where the project takes place, har been forced to shut down due to centralisation there was an issue with finding a feasible plus-programme that could support the peoples house-function. Further, as the region has been heavily affected by the increasing heavy traffic caused by Stockholm Stads relocation of Frihamnen to Nynäshamn, the question of urban norm came into focus, and the project was oriented towards the possibility for the countryside to parasitize on the same power structures that oppress it.

The aim of this qualitative study is to analyse, based on Erving Goffman's theory the dramaturgical perspective and with a narrative analysis of autobiographies, the configuration of roles by honour exposed women. In order to illuminate and increase the understanding of honour-related violence and oppression from the perspective of honour exposed women. There is a requirement of increased knowledge of honour-related violence and oppression, especially among social workers who need to know how to encounter honour exposed women. In the field of research increased knowledge is needed on an individual level, mainly to make the honour exposed women's perspective visible in social work. The results and analysis of the study shows that the honour exposed women perform with several roles in their family collective and in different public contexts. Moreover, numerous aspects in the roles of the honour exposed women emerge. In addition, the women struggle to seek help from the authorities, perform in roles backstage and the boundaries between front and backstage are ambiguous. Furthermore, the study also clarifies that the phenomenon of honour-related violence and oppression is complex with variative expressions.

In our society it’s implied that humans have a duty to work. In his article “The Duty to Work” the philosopher Michael Cholbi (2018) challenging that normative narrative of our contemporary society. Cholbi hold the thesis that the common argument of fair play is invalid in our industrialized society and therefore are most individuals living in the circumstances of such society free from the interpersonal duty to work. I will in this paper analyse Cholbis’ arguments and try to bring nuance to the debate by bringing in other perspectives such as empirical studies about empty labor (meaningless work) of sociologist Roland Paulsen (2015). I will also try to show how structural powers hinders the individual to both talk and act outside of the norms of our work centred culture. The duty to work can be described in two aspects, the interpersonal duty to work, but also personal. I will argue that for most individuals, either personal or interpersonal duty exists.

Christ can be understood as a mirror, connecting humanity and God in his image into a hybrid entity, without eliminating the difference. The complex reality is mirrored through Christ transcending the border between subjectivity and objectivity, human and God, ourselves and others. This study is a form of constructive theology that aims to construct a transformative christological conceptual model, which can contribute to theology as a power critical epistemological deconstruction. It does this through the method of critical and comparative text analysis.  The study consists of two main sections, analysis and the discussion. The analysis section seeks to develop a theoretical frame, in which to generate a conversation between critical theorists Theodor Adorno and Gloria Anzaldúa on their view on epistemological oppression and liberation. The result is the development of an analytical concept called dialectics of the borders that exposes epistemological oppression as understood through the critical terms of oppression of objectivism and the suppressed gap. As an answer to the dialectics of border the analysis section develops the phrase dialectics of the gap, as an expression of epistemological liberation, which relies on such concepts as the shape of the gap, epistemological deconstruction, the hybrid entity, and transformative hybridity. The discussion section applies this theoretical frame to various christological concepts in order to create a new useful conceptual model. The constructed conceptual model is called incarnational epistemology and expresses an empowering critical epistemological reconstruction in Christ. The cross is understood as the explicit border between God and humanity, which is expressed by man's colonialization of dialectics. In Christ God transcends these epistemological borders and embodies the gap, as an expression for dialectics of the gap. For example it is demonstrated with the understanding of the body of Christ as the hybridization between subjectivity and objectivity and the sanctification as a reversed incarnation by the collective reconstruction of Christ in the border between subjectivity and objectivity. Hence, humanity as the body of Christ through sanctification can be understood as the mirrored image of Christ incarnating this epistemological reconstruction.