This thesis presents a study combined of a quantitative content analysis and a discourse analysis and aims to investigate women’s representation in news articles about the 2018 wildfires. The representation is examined in two ways, to what extent and how women were represented. To structure the examination the theory symbolic annihilation is used. Symbolic annihilation includes three different aspects of women’s representation in media; absence, condemnation and trivialization. Each one of these aspects is scrutinized on whether they occur in the news articles about the 2018 wildfires. The results show that all except one of these aspects is materialized in the news articles. Women are represented to a lesser extent than men and often in gender-based roles, but contrary to the theory they are also represented in traditionally male roles without being condemned for it. Furthermore, this thesis also aims to explain the results of the representation of women in the news articles. To achieve this the theory poststructuralistic feminism is used. More specifically to analyze the results using the theoretical ideas about discourse, subjectivity and gendered power structures. The analyze show that the gendered power structures that exist in our society affects the crisis discourse and therefore also the representation of women in it. Why women were represented in traditionally male roles was explained by subjectivity and the individual’s power to change discourses.

Studien syftade till att undersöka studenter vid Örebro universitets uppfattningar om allvarlighetsgraden av fysiskt våld, som utförs i nära heterosexuella parrelationer, beroende på könet på förövaren. Uppfattningarna undersöktes genom en webbaserad enkätundersökning innehållande vinjetter med fiktiva scenarion. Respondenterna (N = 107) fick ta del av ett scenario där förövaren antingen var en man eller en kvinna. Respondenterna tillhandahölls frågor tillhörande scenariot för att mäta uppfattningarna. Resultatet av studien visade signifikanta resultat gällande allvarlighetsgrad av våldet baserat på förövarens kön. Studenterna uppfattade situationen allvarligare när mannen var förövare gällande; 1) syn på incidentens allvarlighetsgrad, 2) syn på förövaren och 3) syn på den utsatta. Studiens resultat diskuterades med teoretisk utgångspunkt i könsmaktsordningen. Förståelsen för hur förövarens kön påverkar uppfattningarna om allvarlighetsgraden av våldet är viktigt för att förstå våld i nära relation som ett samhällsproblem i syfte att arbeta brottsförebyggande. Ökad kunskap inom området bidrar till att minska diskriminering och stigmatisering gällande förövare och utsatta oberoende av könstillhörighet. / The aim of this study was to examine students’ at Örebro University perceptions regarding the severity of physical violence in heterosexual intimate relations based on the gender of the perpetrator. The perceptions were examined through a web based survey containing vignettes with fictional scenarios. The participants (N = 107) received a scenario where the perpetrator was either male or female. The participants were then provided with follow up questions to measure their perceptions of the scenarios. The result of the study showed significant results regarding the severity level of the violence based on the gender of the perpetrator. The students' perceptions showed that the situation was considered more severe when the male was the perpetrator regarding; 1) severity of the situation, 2) perception regarding the perpetrator and 3) perception regarding the victim. The results of the study were discussed in relation to the theory of gendered power structures. The comprehension of how the gender of the perpetrator correlates with perceptions of severity of violence is important in understanding intimate partner violence as a societal issue in order to be able to prevent it. Increased awareness in the field contributes to reducing discrimination and stigmatization regarding perpetrators and victims, regardless of their gender.