This study examines the values underlying marriage formation before childbearing among highly educated women living in Stockholm. This group has been shown in previous research to have increasing propensity to enter marriage before childbearing, due to changing values. Previous studies have suggested a possible connection between rising individualism and gender equality on the one hand, and a new marriage trend on the other hand, noted especially among the highly educated in large cities in Sweden. The values underlying the rise in marriage popularity is yet to be explored which is the aim of the present study based on 20 indepth interviews. The analysis is guided by theories on individualism and gender equality by Anthony Giddens, Ulrich Beck and Gøsta Esping-Andersen. The results show that rising individualism has created a need for relationship stabilizing tools, where marriage works as a practical security measure for relatively new relationships, prior to having children. The results also show that for the group in the study childbearing and marriage are strongly connected. In contrast to individualization theories this  study shows that high marriage propensity can coexist with high levels of individualization.

As gender-based discrimination and violence against women continues to be a critical human rights issue across the world there is a growing demand of engaging men in transforming the relations, norms and the inequal social structures. Even though there are many laws and policies in place to protect women’s rights they are poorly implemented due to the fact that society and social institutions do not fundamentally support them. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how interviewed male college students describe their experiences of participating in a one-year program led by the non-governmental organisation called Men Against Violence and Abuse (MAVA), based in Mumbai, India. Focus has been on the training program seen from the participating students’ perspective and in what way they perceive it has had an impact on their view of gender-based discriminations, equality and patriarchal norms in society. The collected data has been analysed through the theory of patriarchy and gender socialization. The results of the study show that, even though the program has been successful in their goal to change the participants mindset to some extent, the main visible change seem to have been on the students interpersonal skills. The interviewed students report an awareness of gender-based issues in society but also a change on a personal level such as a developed confidence and communication skills. Methods like interactive sessions and street-plays as well as being exposed to new environments, are recurrently expressed to have been positive and beneficial experiences. Another finding is the belief that gender-norms and behaviour are deep-rooted in society. Therefore to change the mindset and changing the norms is a slow process and something that will take time.

Denna studie undersöker hur pass stor inverkan socialt arbete för empowerment kan ha för individers livsvillkor, om dessa individer samtidigt utsätts för stigmatisering. Syftet med studien är att få en djupare förståelse för hur och i vilken utsträckning de verksamma på Shakthidhama women’s rehabilitation and development center finner det möjligt att förverkliga deras vision att stödja utsatta kvinnor att återfå sin ”dignitet och jämställdhet i samhället”. Undran springer ur att verksamhetens mål inte återspeglas i samhället i stort; utsatta kvinnor fortsätter att stigmatiseras i Indien generellt. Denna Minor Field Study är gjord med kvalitativ forskningsmetod; djupgående, löst strukturerade intervjuer utfördes med nyckelpersoner på organisationen Shakthidhama, i Karnataka, Indien. Matons (2008) definition av empowerment samt Link and Phelans (2001) konceptualisering av stigmatisering är ovärderliga för studien. Resultatet visar att de verksamma på Shakthidhama erfar att i princip varje del av deras arbete påverkas av samhälleliga strukturer. Maktrelationer inom empowerment- och stigmatiseringsprocesser undersöks för att landa i frågan kring vara socialt förändringsarbete ska rikta sitt fokus. / This study highlights the social work dilemma of to what extent empowerment work with individuals can make a difference for their opportunities in society, if there is no change in society at large. The aim of the study is to gain a deeper understanding about how and to what extent professionals at the Shakthidhama womens’s rehabilitation and development center, find it possible to fulfil their vision of helping women in need to regain “their dignity and equality in the society”. That is, as long as attitudes in mainstream society are not mirrored in those promoted by the organisation; as long as exposed women get stigmatised in Indian society. This Minor Field Study used qualitative research method; in-dept, open-ended interviews were conducted with keypersons at the NGO Shakthidhama, in Karnataka, India. Essential for the study are Maton’s (2008) definition of empowerment and Link and Phelan’s (2001) description of stigmatisation. The result shows that the professionals at Shakthidhama experienced societal impact over almost every area of work within the organisation. Power dynamics within processes of empowerment and stigmatisation get examined, to arrive to a discussion about where to aim social work for change.

This thesis aimed to explore mothers experiences of having a child with special needs througha gender equality perspective. Four mothers were interviewed through a semi-structured interview guide. Feminist disability studies and emotional labor with an intersectional perspective have been the guiding framework. To analyse the empirical material I have used aqualitative thematic analysis. Research has shown that heterosexual couples with children in Sweden are becoming more equal in terms of the unpaid” invisible” household chores. However, parents who has children with disabilities and in need for more extensive care tend to take on more traditional roles. The findings have shown that mothers are more often the one who takes care of the necessary chores concerning the child’s disability. At the same time, she also needs to take a step back in her career or not able to have work outside the home. For some of the families, the necessary chores have been divided into administrative or practical tasks were one parent has done more than the other. To get a deeper knowledge about why it was that certain gender division I have found that the deep emotional connection to their child had an intersectional effect in the decision to stay home for these mothers.

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Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur olika idrottsföreningar arbetar med jämställdhetsfrågor och hur de upplever att det arbetet fungerar.  Det genomfördes fem semi-strukturerade intervjuer med förtroendevalda i styrelsen för föreningarna och därefter med hjälp av en kvalitativ innehållsanalys togs det manifesta innehållet fram. Resultatet visade att brist på resurser begränsar föreningarnas jämställdhetsarbete samt hur föreningar arbetar utifrån beteendeförändringar och uppfattningar kring könsnormer i samhället. Riksidrottsförbundet arbetar strategiskt med jämställdhetsfrågor på nationell nivå dock visar resultatet att arbetet inte når fram ända till den operativa nivån ute hos föreningarna. / The purpose of this study was to investigate how different sports associations work with gender equality and how they experience that work operate. Whit help from five semistructured interviews with informants from the boards in the associations and a qualitative contant analysis the results shows that time, money and knowledge was a barrier against working whit gender equality. The result also showed that the associations works whit behavioral changes regarding attitudes and languages. Riksidrottsförbundet work strategically with gender equality on a national level however the results shows that the work does not reach the operational level in the associations.

Differences of opinion in political subjects is an unanswered phenomenon and does not seem to fade away as the world turns more gender equal. This study aims to deepen the understanding of what is known in the scholarly literature as a gender gap. The correlation between more gender equal views and peaceful attitudes in foreign policy’s, earlier found in four Middle Eastern society’s is tested on the population of Sweden. Public opinion surveys from the SOM-institute are analysed with frequency- and contingency tables. The results show a gender gap in Sweden and that the relationship between more peaceful attitudes in foreign policy’s and a more gender equal perspective is also observed in Sweden. That relationship provides no satisfying explanatory force to the gender gap. The phenomenon remains unsolved, but this study extended the understanding and provided a few suggestions on how further studies could embrace the question and fill the knowledge gap.

Past research has confirmed that structural attributes of nations, as well as individual characteristics of people contribute to levels of fear of crime, across both nations and individuals. Specifically, in regard to the effects structural characteristics have on fear, gender equality has been shown to affect rates of rape, which in turn, affect women's fear of crime. Regarding individual-level determinants, age, income, education, whether one dwells in an urban or rural area, and prior victimization have been shown to have effects on fear. This dissertation set out to answer several research questions related to prior findings: 1) How does gender equality affect women's fear of crime across nations?; 2) Does gender equality have a direct effect on women's fear, or is this effect mediated by national rape rates?; 3) How do structural characteristics other than gender equality affect women's fear of crime?; and last, 4) How do individual characteristics affect women's fear of crime? Using data from various sources, including the International Criminal Victimization Survey, the World Values Survey, the United Nations, and the World Bank (total N=20 nations and 17,384 individuals), I assessed the aforementioned research questions using multilevel modeling. Overall, findings indicate that individual-level characteristics did a better job than structural context in predicting women's fear of crime across various nations. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed in the final chapter.

Humanitarian interventions increasingly use safe spaces as part of their work on SGBV prevention, mitigation and response. Therefore, this thesis examines how safe spaces have affected refugee women in the regional response to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. The method is a literature review analysing reports, news articles and guidelines. The analysis uses the concepts of empowerment and gendered conflict theory for a deeper understanding of what consequences safe spaces have on refugee women in terms of empowerment and strengthened role in society. The analysis shows that safe spaces are integrated with other sectors and have enabled creation of regional standardization and cross-border protection. Response plans incorporate empowerment as a central aspect with awareness-raising, community outreach, economic empowerment, social support and community resilience key components. It also showed an increased need of safe spaces at unofficial border crossings and that gender stereotypes continue to place women at risk in Venezuela and countries of destination.

BackgroundGender-Based Violence (GBV) is a global problem rooted in gender inequality. South Africa has exceptionally high rates of GBV. Despite the fact that Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) has been taught as part of the school subject Life Orientation to teach topics like gender equality, studies have demonstrated inconsistent implementation of this curriculum.AimTo investigate Life Orientation educators’ experiences of teaching the curriculum in relation to GBV and gender equality and manging the issue of GBV in public schools located in the Gauteng province, South Africa, and gain information about the challenges educators experience and what they think is needed to actively work towards preventing GBV in schools.Research DesignA qualitative research design was utilised.MethodTwelve participants were interviewed online using a semi-structured interview guide. The data was transcribed, coded, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsThe results indicate that the participating educators experience various challenges and have diverse views on potential improvements. Limited educational and training resources, deep-rooted views of gender roles and cultural traditions, limited recognition of the subject’s importance by educational authorities, as well as uncertainty regarding existing school GBV policies are crucial findings on how the educators experience teaching GBV.ConclusionThis study identified challenges and the potential benefits of improved educator training to address the topic of GBV, more detailed coverage of GBV in the curriculum, increased awareness surrounding GBV and allocating more time to these concepts.