Denna uppsats undersöker kvinnlig könsstympning och hur fenomenet hanteras av svenska myndigheter och intresseorganisationer med ett beaktande av svensk nyhetsrapportering. Särskilt undersöks vad vi i Sverige vet om förekomsten av kvinnlig könsstympning, hur frågan hanteras av svenska myndigheter och intresseorganisationer samt hur svensk tidningsmedia belyser kvinnlig könsstympning. Metoden som har använts för att besvara uppsatsens frågeställningar är en kvalitativ innehållsanalys och det empiriska materialet består av publikationer från myndigheter däribland rapporter från forskare och Socialstyrelsen, Länsstyrelsen Östergötland och Regeringskansliet. Vi har även gjort en kompletterande undersökning av 51 artiklar från svenska tidningsmedia. Dessa undersökningar speglar tillsammans hur det svenska samhället officiellt ser på kvinnlig könsstympning och hur den bör hanteras. Resultaten har analyserats utifrån den genusvetenskapliga radikalfeministiska patriarkatsteorin i syfte att hitta samband mellan myndigheters arbete med att förebygga könsstympning och vår valda teori. Resultatet visar bland annat att svenska myndigheter och intresseorganisationer i och för sig arbetar med att förebygga, upptäcka och bekämpa kvinnlig könsstympning men att det krävs ytterligare insatser i form av kunskap hos tjänstemän och andra som jobbar med frågan för att förhindra sedvänjan i Sverige. Den radikalfeministiska patriarkatsteorin har en stor betydelse i arbetet för att förebygga, upptäcka och bekämpa kvinnlig könsstympning. / This thesis examines female genital mutilation and how the phenomenon is managed by Swedish authorities and non-governmental organizations with consideration of Swedish news reporting. Particularly, this thesis examines what we in Sweden know about the existence of female genital mutilation, how the issue is handled by Swedish authorities and non-governmental organizations, and how Swedish news reporting illustrates female genital mutilation. The method used to answer the questions raised in the thesis is a qualitative content analysis and the empirical material consists of publications from researchers and authorities including inter alia the National Board of Health and Welfare, the County Administrative Board Östergötland and the Swedish Government. We have also performed a supplementary survey of 51 articles from Swedish press. These sources reflect altogether how the Swedish society officially views female genital mutilation and how it should be managed. The results have been analysed on the basis of the gender-science radical feminist patriarchy theory in order to find the connections between the authorities' work towards preventing female genital mutilation in relation to our chosen theory. The results show, among other things, that Swedish authorities and non-governmental organisations are taking measures to prevent, detect and combat female genital mutilation, but that further efforts are required in order to increase the knowledge of officials and other people working to prevent the practice in Sweden. radical feminist patriarchy theory plays a major role in preventing, detecting and combating female genital mutilation.

The idea of universal applicability of human rights has been a symbol of hope that peace and justice in the world is possible, since the late 1940s. Although it is a fiction, and anthropology can proof this bringing countless evidence, strong general awareness of this idea still inspires many in their strive for freedom and dignity as well as opposition to violence. The aim of this thesis is to bring two controversial examples, illustrating how and why value-driven struggle for promotion of human rights fails. The aim is nevertheless not to compromise this noble idea but to contribute to its more thorough understanding as well as more effective implementation. A chapter on so called female genital circumcision (also known as female genital mutilation) offers critical analyses of the international campaign for eradication of this practice, led by international feminist movement since the late 1970s. The attention is drawn mainly to manipulation of facts and unfair argumentation, thanks to which the so called female genital circumcision was labelled cruel practice of backward societies serving degradation and control of women, making more structured understanding of reality impossible. A chapter dedicated to abortion tries to see political and cultural influences hidden under the surface of debate on...

The idea of universal applicability of human rights has been a symbol of hope that peace and justice in the world is possible, since the late 1940s. Although it is a fiction, and anthropology can proof this bringing countless evidence, strong general awareness of this idea still inspires many in their strive for freedom and dignity as well as opposition to violence. The aim of this thesis is to bring two controversial examples, illustrating how and why value-driven struggle for promotion of human rights fails. The aim is nevertheless not to compromise this noble idea but to contribute to its more thorough understanding as well as more effective implementation. A chapter on so called female genital circumcision (also known as female genital mutilation) offers critical analyses of the international campaign for eradication of this practice, led by international feminist movement since the late 1970s. The attention is drawn mainly to manipulation of facts and unfair argumentation, thanks to which the so called female genital circumcision was labelled cruel practice of backward societies serving degradation and control of women, making more structured understanding of reality impossible. A chapter dedicated to abortion tries to see political and cultural influences hidden under the surface of debate on...