In my essay, I have considered whether the data in publications on sexual violence against children reflectreality. I suspect that there are cases of child sexual abuse that goes underreported, and I try to investigate why this happens and the key possible reasons that lower the statistics. My essay focuses on the community in Western Kenya, yet I think the presumptions I made can be generalised and applicable to other contexts. I analyse material from research in Kisumu County and national data, and I support myself with information about child abuse from UNICEF. I name four key reasons why the data may not reflect reality: the taboo of being a sexual victim, economic dependency, psychological manipulation, and how society defines rape and sexual abuse. I use critical feminism as a framework to tackle the issue of a marginalised group of people.

Intimate partner violence was one of the major social issues during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. During the pandemic, the cases of intimate partner violence seemed to increase in terms of women coming forward to report the abuse but also in media exposure. This study aims to explore the key factors for the rise in intimate partner violence numbers, as well as the effect it had on victims of intimate partner violence. PRISMA protocol was utilized to analyze the data collected. From the theoretical framework of feminist theory, three key factors for the increase of intimate partner violence in Greece were identified: lack of governmental incentives and action plans to prevent IPV and aid victims of IPV, the macho and impunity culture of Greek society, and police and legislation as patriarchal institutions.

The aim of the study was to examine how advocacy workers from different governmental and non-governmental organisations work with female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and gender equality in The Gambia. We further examined their experienced difficulties and the provided support to women exposed to FGM/C. The study was based on field observations of events, meetings and educational events, as well as semi-structured and open-ended interviews with ten participants. Through a thematic analysis, findings show that counselling were the main form of support, and the most experienced difficulties was the male dominance, the cultural belief and the culture of silence. Education, traditional forums and advocacy where therefore used as informative tools regarding gender roles, power positions and the harmfulness of FGM/C. Thus, findings confirm the importance of the continuous work with the gender roles, the social exclusion of the unmutilated women and the gatekeeping roles hindering the abandonment of the harmful practice.

International non-governmental organisations (INGOs) play an important role in tackling gender based violence in many countries. Hundreds of reports have been written and thousands of recommendations made. Yet, rates of gender based violence are known to increase during conflict and post-conflict. Needing a vast multitude of needs addressed in attempt for INGOs to support survivors of gender based violence. This study sets out to understand the ways that INGOs support, empower and advocate for women concerning gender based violence in post-conflict countries such as Colombia. It further analysed how INGOs implemented preventions and interventions of gender based violence. Specifically, exploring aspects such as, empowerment, gender roles and overall service provision. The research takes an intersectional feminist perspective to consider what gender based violence interventions have been used by these INGOs and see how aligned these interventions are with intersectional feminist theory. Further, the research focuses on the involvement of INGOs in gender based violence and their view of women as displayed in that involvement. The study adopts a desk-based research design to explore the involvement of INGOs looking at gender based violence in Colombia. The material was analysed in relation to gender, intersectionality and feminist theory, specifically referencing back to values embedded in inclusivity and gender equality. A number of aggravating factors are identified that seem to critically evaluate the involvement of INGOs in regards gender based violence. Despite their best efforts to provide an inclusive approach, the study indicates that some INGOs perpetrate unequal power dynamics, depict survivors of gender based violence as victims and do not address other intersectional issues such as lack of inclusivity. Overall, the thesis is critical as to why gender based violence seems to be a lower priority for INGOs and local actors and recommends that more intersectional feminist values should be included within projects and programs.

Costa Rica is in many aspects a well-developed country, but as many other countries there is still a lot of inequality between the genders. Which can take its form in violence towards minorities such as women and children. The region is also influenced heavily by very conservative gender norms. The aim of this study is to conduct an in-depth investigation of the occurrence of gender-based violence (GBV). As well as to understand the societal and cultural factors that serve as institutional mechanisms and how they impact the country's development. The study will focus on institutions as structural features of public policy, and the norms set by these institutions that affect laws and civil society. By identifying these institutional mechanisms through the help of our respondents and relevant theories, the study will analyze the legislation, policies and cultural norms that exist within Costa Rican society and compare them with the insights provided by the respondents. This will be achieved through first-hand experiences and observations obtained from in-depth interviews with women and professionals who work and live in Costa Rica. The responses from the interviews will serve as the primary source of data for analysis. The result will be analyzed using Hirdman gender theories: Bandura A. social learning theory, and new institutional theory. The analysis will be presented in different themes, focusing on the legislation and the implementation of laws. The second theme will discuss in more detail the institutional mechanisms and how they impact the development of the country. The study findings indicate that Costa Rica has an underrepresentation of women in the political sphere and society overall, and there is no priority on women's issues. The patriarchal structure perpetuates a damaging worldview for women, machismo, and cultural traditions are some of the examples of informal mechanisms of influence present in the society. In conclusion, GBV is a significant problem in Costa Rica that leads to a high number of women being hurt or killed each year and makes it harder to move forward when it comes to sustainable development. The study finds that institutionalized norms influence the country's politics and contribute to the rise in cases of GBV. Costa Rica is in a unique position concerning sustainable development, and it is essential to study this issue, especially given the country`s previously positive development trajectory. There is also a lack of studies and work by Sweden and Sida in Central and Latin America.

This study focused on the agency of battered women who kill in Turkey by conducting face- to-face interviews and using news articles covering the stories of three battered women who killed their abusers. Using a feminist poststructuralist theory and intersectionality analysis, the study analysed the patterns surrounding the agency of battered women who kill. Male violence in Turkey continues to be an unresolved problem, which continues to only grow. In the mainstream media and discourse, female victims of male violence tend to be portrayed within the victimhood concept. Thus, it creates an image of a weak, passive woman who does not have an agency. However, battered women who kill tend to conflict with the image of a passive victim. The act of killing does not fit the traditional understanding of femininity. The interview findings showed that battered women who killed their abusers were commonly understood as desperate, weak, and ignorant women. While the act of killing was justified, it was through a justification of an act conducted by someone who lacked agency. The news portrayals supported the findings of the interviews and showed that battered women who kill were justified when the woman was portrayed as a victim who killed specifically while she was being battered and was a mother who killed...

The purpose of this study was to measure differences in learning styles in an online E-Commerce I class in public secondary schools in North Carolina. Students' observations and achievements were evaluated by gender, grade level, course of study, online experience, and expected grade. This type of study could identify relationships between the online model and the four areas evaluated. This information may aid designers of online curricula as well as the teachers. The literature review covered several topics including technology, online learning, gender-based education, learning styles, maturity, and expectations. Each topic was related to the success of students in an online environment. This quantitative study was conducted using a survey-design method. The survey was designed using online survey software. Specifically, the survey concentrated on the differences and successes in an online class. With online education growing in popularity, educators need to evaluate the reasons behind success or failure. Independent sample t tests and a one way ANOVA were used to determine the significance of each research question. The survey dealt with 3 different dimensions, the learning style dimension, the experience dimension, and the opinion dimension. Findings showed significant differences in 2 areas, age and expected grade. The data showed a significant difference between juniors and seniors in all 3 dimensions of the survey. The findings also showed significant findings in all 3 dimensions of the survey in regard to expected grade. Recommendations for future research, conclusions, and recommendations for practice are also included.

This thesis focuses on GBV against women and girls in conflict and post-conflict societies with a particular emphasis on South Sudan. It notes that women and girls are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence, and other consequences of war, including displacement and loss of livelihood. The generally weaker social capital that women tend to possess is often a precursor to wanton abuse at the hands of both friend and foe. A United Nations Human Rights Commission situation report on South Sudan, the country has had an incredibly difficult experience for the people who were the victims of conflict as violence has completely eclipsed the rule of law. Women and girls continue to encounter gender-related violence in form of rape, defilement, sexual slavery and very many other human rights abuses such as forced prostitution, domestic violence and sex trafficking. Coupled with this, their needs are undermined and not adequately addressed by duty-bearers and state actors. This is the case despite the availability of national legal provisions that declare the protection of women and girls as a guiding principle. This study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of GBV against women and girls in South Sudan. To achieve this, the study offers an understanding of the nature and architecture of South Sudan as a conflict and post-conflict state, and the causes and contributing factors of GBV against women and girls in South Sudan. It also identifies the consequences and effects of GBV against women and girls in South Sudan and examines the legal framework for the protection of women and girls in South Sudan.   The study engages the feminist framework to place the study into perspective. It argues that the main factors leading to GBV against women and girls stem from the patriarchal nature of South Sudanese culture, which is further evidenced in the institutional structures. The study engages a qualitative research approach that is based on a descriptive analysis to offer a normative reflection on how conflict shapes societal attitudes towards women and girls. Being non-empirical, the study uses a library research method of investigation to incorporate available sources with relevant unpublished sources. The findings show that South Sudan is characterized by divided loyalty to two publics namely formal institutional structures and traditional cultural structures. It indicates that the strong formal and informal patriarchal institutions and practices grounded in violence and misogyny still exist giving men a hegemonic status which promotes aggressive behaviour and devaluation of women whilst serving to legitimize GBV against women and girls and prevent access to justice. The study shows that the prevailing laws in South Sudan are not sufficient to protect women and girls in South Sudan from GBV since many of these laws are enacted and enforced by men who oftentimes are the perpetrators of violence against women and are protected by patriarchal cultural and formal institutions. Finally, the study proposes adopting a human rights approach in an ethnically plural state, institutional reforms, legal reforms and increased resource allocation to GBV prevention.

Introduction Violence against women is one of the major social problems of our time and a violation of women's human rights. Globally, it is estimated that one out of three women are exposed to some type of violence. Extensive, consequential health problems lead women subjected to violence to seek medical treatment more frequently than women who are not subjected to violence.   Aim The aim was to describe abused women's experiences of the healthcare providers’ encounter in contact with the health and medical services. Method General literature study with an inductive approach and descriptive design. Result The women were reluctant to start conversations about violence on their own initiative, why healthcare providers became a crucial actor in violence disclosure and could, in some cases, be the only chance in identifying violence. Several women had never been asked about violence, instead they described negative experiences of medical services where healthcare providers had acted in a manner which left them feeling humiliated and insulted. A minority of the women experienced that the disclosure of violence had led to better medical care and that the healthcare providers subsequently were also able to support the women through following vulnerable medical procedures. Healthcare providers who showed understanding and empathy could contribute to a comfortable and trusting experience. The women preferred to speak to healthcare providers of their own sex, particularly nurses and midwives. Healthcare providers’ validation and terminological explanations of abuse and violence were also important to help women disclose violence. Conclusion This literature study demonstrates substantial challenges in healthcare services’ response to the patient group of women subjected to violence, in a person-centered manner.The healthcare provider plays an important role in the response of these women. More knowledge and competence is required to develop the healthcare’s response to women subjected to violence. / Introduktion Våld mot kvinnor är ett av vår tids stora samhällsproblem samt en kränkning av kvinnors mänskliga rättigheter. Globalt estimeras att en av tre kvinnor utsatts för någon typ av våld. Hälsoproblemen är omfattande vilket gör att våldsutsatta kvinnor söker vård mer frekvent än icke våldsutsatta. Syfte Syftet var att beskriva våldsutsatta kvinnors erfarenheter av vårdpersonalens bemötande i kontakt med hälso- och sjukvården. Metod  Litteraturöversikt med induktiv ansats samt deskriptiv design. Resultat Kvinnorna ville sällan själva ta initiativ till samtal om våld. Sjukvården blev därför en viktig resurs vid avslöjandet om våld och kunde i vissa fall vara den enda chansen att identifiera våld. Flertalet kvinnorna hade inte blivit tillfrågade om våld, utan beskrev istället negativa vårderfarenheter där sjukvårdspersonal agerat på ett sådant sätt att de känt sig förnedrade och kränkta. En minoritet av kvinnor tyckte att avslöjandet lett till bättre vård samt att vårdpersonal därefter kunnat hjälpa kvinnorna igenom svåra vårdsituationer. Vårdpersonal som försökt förstå och visat empati kunde skapa en bekväm och tillitsfull situation. Kvinnorna föredrog att prata med sjukvårdspersonal av samma kön, företrädelsevis sjuksköterskor samt barnmorskor. Sjukvårdspersonalens validering samt begreppsförklaring av övergrepp och våld var likaså viktiga för att hjälpa kvinnornas avslöjande. Slutsats  Av litteraturöversikten framgår att hälso- och sjukvården haft framstående svårigheter med att bemöta gruppen våldsutsatta kvinnor på ett personcentrerat sätt.Vårdpersonalen har en betydelsefull roll vid bemötande av dessa kvinnor. Ökad kunskap och kompetens behövs för att utveckla vårdpersonalens bemötande av våldsutsatta kvinnor.

This thesis will explore how the municipal governments integration provision provides mental health aid towards refugee women that has been exposed to gender-based violence within Östergörland region in Sweden. This will be achieved by using a thematic analysis application on the gathered data that was conducted through semi-structured interviews with three municipal governments in Östergötland region and two external actors, one regional refugee medical center and the other actor is a non-profit organization in Sweden. The multilevel governance framework will be used to analyze the findings from the interviews with the participants to get a throughout and an in-depth analysis. The findings show how the integration provision of providing mental health aid towards gender-based exposed refugee women, is provided through collaboration with outside actors. With the health care being controlled by the Östergötland regional government, the funds given to the municipalities does not cover project for mental health provision.