The purpose of this study is to investigate social workers' experience in meeting men who are victims of domestic violence by women. Through this study we want to acquire an in-depth understanding of how social norms of gender and masculinity have an impact on domestic violence by women as well as its impact on social workers in their treatment of the abused men. The methodological starting point of this study is based on a hermeneutic qualitative approach where empirical data have been obtained through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted with six social workers who all come in contact with domestic violence through their work. Results from this study show that the norms of gender and masculinity which exist in our society do affect the view of men and manhood and it affects the view on women’s violence and violence in general. It also affects how the social workers treat men who are victims of domestic abuse by women. The result of this is that men feel a lot of shame about being victims of domestic abuse hence making it hard to reach them in efforts to help. Our conclusion is that social workers need to learn more about how norms of gender and masculinity affect what the men are feeling and hence find ways to treat these men without shame interfering in that treatment.

Genom användning av diskursanalys ämnar denna studie besvara följande frågor: ”Hur framställs skillnaderna och likheterna mellan våld i nära relationer och hedersrelaterat våld, och hur betraktas de som olika fenomen?” samt ”Hur kan synen av olika kulturer påverkas genom att definiera våldet på olika sätt?”. För att besvara dessa frågor har 29 tidningsartiklar om våld i nära relationer och 61 artiklar om hedersrelaterat våld som skrivits i svenska dagstidningar mellan åren 2002 och 2021 samlats in. Dessa har sedan analyserats med hjälp av Laclaus och Mouffes diskursanalys. Analysen fokuserar på hur hedersrelaterat våld och våld i nära relationer presenteras i den mediala debatten. Utifrån analysen uppkom två diskurser: ”Det främmande våldet” samt ”Den mediala rapporteringen av distinktionen mellan olika våld”. Diskursanalysen tillhör det socialkonstruktivistiska perspektivet. Majoriteten av den tidigare forskningen berör det feministiska perspektivet. Dessa perspektiv brukas för att försöka förklara om det finns någon skillnad mellan nyhetsrapporteringen av hedersrelaterat våld och våld i nära relationer samt hur detta påverkar synen på icke-svenska kulturer. Studien klargör att det finns en skillnad på rapporteringen av hedersrelaterat våld och våld i nära relationer. Detta bidrar bland annat till att kunna särskilja olika grupper i samhället där etniska minoriteter framställs som främmande och oförmögen att kunna anpassa sig till det svenska samhället. / Through the application of discourse analysis, the purpose of this study is to answer the following questions: “How are the similarities and differences of domestic violence and honour-related violence portrayed, and in what ways are they viewed differently?” and “How can the perception of other cultures be affected by redefining the violence?”. To answer these questions, 29 news articles regarding domestic violence and 61 news articles regarding honour-related violence have been collected and then analysed with the help of Laclau’s and Mouffe’s discourse analysis. The analysis focuses on the way domestic violence and honour-related violence is portrayed in the journalistic space. Through this analysis, two discourses emerged: “The foreign violence” and “The distinction in portrayal of difference types on violence in the sphere of media”. Discourse analysis lies within the realm of social constructivism. Most prior research touches upon the feministic perspective. These perspectives are used in order to explain any difference in the reporting of honour-related violence and domestic violence in the media, and furthermore how it affects the regard of non-Swedish cultures. The study identified that there is a difference in the portrayal of honour-related violence and domestic violence in Swedish media. Ramifications include segregation, leading to the view that ethnic minorities are unable to conform to the structure of Swedish society at large.

Syftet med studien var att identifiera de faktorer i kvinnors utsatthet för våld av män i nära relationer som påverkar deras val och möjlighet att stanna i alternativt lämna en våldsam parrelation samt vilken inverkan och påverkan det sociala nätverket har på kvinnors beslut att stanna i alternativt lämna relationen. Genom kvalitativ innehållsanalys av fyra självbiografier skrivna av tidigare våldsutsatta kvinnor sammanställdes resultat, som tematiserades och analyserades med hjälp av teorierna och begreppen normaliseringsprocess, traumatisk bindning och uppbrottsprocess tillsammans med tidigare forskning. Resultatet visade att anledningar till att en våldsutsatt kvinna stannar i en våldsam parrelation är starka känslomässiga band, normalisering av våldet, beroende, psykisk nedbrytning, internalisering, rädsla samt hopp om förändring. Vad som gör att en våldsutsatt kvinna lämnar en våldsam parrelation är insikten om att det skulle vara ohållbart att stanna av olika anledningar samt rädsla för sitt eget eller annans liv. Uppbrottsprocessen kan förklaras likt en process i flera steg. Omgivningens stöd visade sig också ha stor betydelse i kvinnans val och möjlighet att kunna lämna relationen, dock är beslutet att lämna relationen tvunget att komma från kvinnan själv. Slutsatsen var därmed att kvinnor som utsätts för våld av män i nära relationer är en mycket utsatt grupp i samhället, relationen till männen är ofta komplex. För att bryta kvinnors isolering, som följd av våldsutsattheten, krävs insatser från omgivningen samt förändring på samhällelig nivå. / The purpose of the study was to identify the factors in women's exposure to violence by men in intimate relationships that affect their choice and ability to stay in or leave a violent relationship and what impact the social network has on women's decision to stay in or leave the relationship. Through qualitative content analysis of four autobiographies written by previously abused women, results were compiled, thematized and analysed using theories and concepts such as normalization process, traumatic bonding, and break-up process together with previous research. The results showed that reasons why an abused woman stays in a violent relationship are strong emotional bonds, normalization of violence, addiction, being mentally break down, internalization, fear and hope for change. What causes an abused woman to leave a violent relationship has turned out to be the realization that it would be unsustainable to stay for various reasons as well as fear for her own or someone else's life. The breaking process can be explained as a process in several steps. The social network had a great importance in the woman's choice and opportunity to be able to leave the relationship, however, the decision to leave had to come from the woman herself. The conclusion was thus that women who are exposed by men in intimate partner violence are a very vulnerable group in society, the relationship is often complex. Breaking women's isolation, as a result of domestic violence, requires efforts from the social network and change at the societal level.

Kommuner kan ha olika rutiner vad gäller utbetalning av ekonomiskt bistånd som på olika vis kan påverka jämställdhet och våld i nära relationer. Det råder även ett begränsat forskningsläge kring utbetalningsrutiners påverkan på dessa faktorer. Därför ville vi med hjälp av denna studie undersöka vilka erfarenheter socialsekreterare besitter av och hur de resonerar kring att utbetalningsrutiner kan påverka jämställdhet och våld i nära relationer. Utöver det ville vi även undersöka socialsekreterarnas handlingsutrymme gentemot dessa rutiner. Även om socialsekreterare i vissa situationer vill handla i enlighet med klientens bästa kan de nämligen hindras av olika rutiner och riktlinjer. I denna kvalitativa studie har vi intervjuat sex socialsekreterare från tre olika kommuner och data har bearbetats genom en tematisk analys. Resultaten visade att samtliga socialsekreterare hade svårt att se hur eller om deras utbetalningsrutiner kunde påverka våld i nära relationer samt att handlingsutrymmet varierade beroende på vilken utbetalningsrutin som tillämpades. / Municipalities have different routines regarding payments of financial support which in different ways can affect equality and intimate partner violence. There are also limited studies about payment routines effects on these factors. Therefore, we wanted to investigate social workers experiences and reasonings regarding the effects payments routines can have on equality and intimate partner violence. We also wanted to investigate social workers discretion to these routines. Although social workers in certain situations want to act in the clients best interests, they can be limited by different routines and guidelines. In this qualitative study we have interviewed six social workers from three municipalities and the data has been processed through thematic analysis. The results showed that all social workers had difficulties seeing how or if their payment routines could affect intimate partner violence. It also showed that the discretion varied depending on what payment routine they were using.

This paper aims to examine how the legal status of animals as property affect them and their owners in the context of domestic abuse, and to answer the question of whether it would be appropriate to change this. Several methods are used, most notably the legal dogmatic, legal analytic, and socio-legal. A feminist perspective is also applied. Animals are classified as objects in the Swedish legal system. According to the courts, however, they are not an object like any other. Despite their legal status, they are entitled to certain rights. Through research on what is called the link, it has been proven that animals play a very important role in domestic abuse relationships. They are effectively weaponized against the woman, and they are also often themselves abused, something that is not always understood considering the animals’ status as property. Because of recent court judgements and other societal tendencies, it can however be discussed if this is still the case, or if the order is slowly shifting. The paper finds that it cannot be claimed that animals by the legal order are viewed as more than objects in cases of domestic abuse. It can however be claimed that court judgements, public projects and recent changes on the animal rights area show inclinations of the Swedish legal system increasingly acknowledging animals within the domestic abuse context, however principally to the extent the abused woman views the animal as meaningful to her. Further findings include that it is not expedient to broaden the right of appeal in animal rights cases for the sake of the domestically abused animal, until they are considered more than property. It is furthermore not expedient to consider all or certain types of animals as more than property in the context of domestic abuse, as it would not outweigh the opposing interests. The findings lead to the conclusion that animals in situations of domestic abuse are best protected within Swedish law by strengthening animal welfare, by recognizing abuse against animals as a form psychological violence against women, and by establishing national measures on how the link problematic is to be addressed and redressed.

This study is exploring how social workers working for the Social Services in the Stockholm area, experience the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which has become part of the Swedish law. The Social workers that participated in the study, are working with children that are being abused or witnessing abuse in their home environment. The students of the study focus on how the social workers think the new law can affect them in their work with the children. Furthermore, this study wants to investigate, if the new law can give the social workers a different approach when working. There were six social workers that participated in the study from different Social Service offices within the Stockholm area. The result of the study showed that the social workers were positive towards UNCRC becoming part of the Swedish law, but they illustrated having a low trust in how it will affect them in the practical work. However, collaboration with the welfare system, could make a difference on the children's future. The social workers also explained, that with the right knowledge, they could intercept the abused kids in their home earlier and faster.

Utgångspunkten inför studien är att våld i nära relationer inte sällan benämns som mäns våld mot kvinnor och syftar till att det är ett fenomen som främst förekommer inom heterosexuella relationer, där mannen framförallt ses som förövaren. Vi ser att våld i samkönade relationer därigenom riskerar att inte bli lika uppmärksammat. Från litteraturen går det att utläsa att det kan påverka tillgången till stöd och hjälp för personer som lever i våldsamma samkönade relationer. Vidare ser vi även att hbtq-personer, världen över, många gånger lever utan samma rättigheter som heterosexuella. Studien har som syfte att undersöka hur våld i samkönade relationer, uppbrott och bemötande kan uppfattas och beskrivas från personer som levt i en våldsam samkönad relation. Studiens material har samlats in från offentligt publicerade, personliga, berättelser på sociala forum, både internationellt och nationellt. Studiens resultat visade att våldet i en samkönad relation kan beskrivas på liknande sätt som våld i nära relation. Däremot framgick det i resultatet att målgruppen kan stå inför en specifik utsatthet till följd av samhällets struktur och normer. Denna aspekt återfanns i våldets olika uttryck, uppbrott och bemötande. Det är en aspekt som vanligtvis inte återfinns i våld i nära, heterosexuella, relationer. Ett annat resultat från studien var att hjälp- och serviceorganisationer inte ansetts vara behjälpliga och anpassade att bemöta målgruppen. Däremot framkom det att individuella professionella har ansetts behjälpliga i uppbrottet och tiden efteråt. Det återfanns även ett märkbart fenomen inom resultatet där män som är utsatta av våld tenderar stå utanför samhällets skyddssystem. Det framgick att mäns utsatthet, i sig, osynliggörs genom samhällets förutfattade meningar kring maskulinitet och mannens roll i samhället. Slutsatser från studien är att våld i samkönade relationer till stor del liknar det våld som återfinns i våld i nära relationer, men att det finns aspekter som skiljer sig. Dessa aspekter utgörs av hbtq-personers generella, och karaktäristiska, utsatthet i samhället och kan leda till att personerna blir dubbelt isolerade. Slutligen har vi även kunnat dra en slutsats om att heteronormen i ett samhälle kan bidra till att fenomenet blir obelyst. / Our prior view is that violence in close relationships is not often referred as men's violence against women and aims to be a phenomenon which mainly occurs in heterosexual relationships, where the man is the perpetrator. Therefore, violence in same sex relationships risks not being as well known. Based on the literature this may affect access to support and help for people living in violent same sex relationships. Furthermore, we also see that LGBTQ-people often live without same rights as heterosexuals. The aim of this study was to investigate how break-up and response regarding violence in same sex relationships can be perceived and described from people who have lived in a violent same sex relationship. The materials of the study have been collected from publicly published, personal, stories on social forums, both internationally and nationally. The results of the study show that violence in a same sex relationship can be expressed similarly as violence in a close relationship. However, the results showed that the target group can face a specific vulnerability as a result of the structure and norms of society. This aspect was found in various expressions, break-up and response of violence. It is an aspect usually not found in violence in close, heterosexual, relationships. Another result was that aid and service organizations were not considered helpful nor adapted to meet the target group. However, it emerged that individual professionals were considered helpful in the break-up and afterwards. There was also a noticeable phenomenon where men who were subjected to violence tend to be outside the social protection system. It appears that men's vulnerability is invisible through society's preconceived notions of masculinity and man's role in society. Conclusions drawn in the study are that violence in same sex relationships is similar to the violence found in close relationships, though there are aspects that differ. These aspects constitutes from LGBTQ-peoples general vulnerability in society and how it risks causing them to become doubly isolated. Finally, we have been able to conclude that the heteronorm can contribute to the phenomenon going unresolved.

Men's violence against women is a widespread problem in society and has been recognized as a violation of the human rights. To prevent and fight men's violence against women and to give them the support they need, the society and public actors have an important role to play. Sweden has a self-image of being one of the most equal and developed countries in the world. Despite this, Sweden has received criticism for its handling of men's violence against women, and the prevalence of violence is, according to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee), relatively high. The aim of this thesis is to investigate how chosen actors within the Swedish Public administration perceive their work regarding men’s violence against women and how it might be understood with the use of the normative theory “Good governance”. The thesis is focused on examining how the public actors experience their work through capacity, capability, transparency, as well as accountability. To examine this subject, qualitative interviews are made with representants from five different public actors, and where an idea analysis is applied to distinguish how the respondents perceive their work against men’s violence against women. The public actors, which are represented in the thesis: Länsstyrelsen, Nationell centrum för kvinnofrid (NCK), Polismyndigheten, Kriscentrum för kvinnor i Göteborgs Stad och Jämställdhetsmyndigheten. The results show that the public actors believe that there are areas of improvement in their work regarding men's violence against women. From a good governance perspective, capacity and capability must increase, and transparency, accountability and cooperation must improve for the work to live up to the requirements of good governance. / Mäns våld mot kvinnor är ett utbrett samhällsproblem och har erkänts som en kränkning av de mänskliga rättigheterna. För att förebygga och bekämpa mäns våld mot kvinnor och ge kvinnorna det stöd de behöver har samhället och de offentliga aktörerna viktiga roller. Sverige har en självbild av att vara ett av världens mest jämställda och utvecklade länder. Trots detta har Sverige fått kritik för sitt arbete med mäns våld mot kvinnor och förekomsten av våldet är enligt FN:s kvinnokommitté fortfarande relativt hög. Uppsatsens syfte är därför att undersöka hur utvalda aktörer inom den svenska offentliga förvaltningen upplever sitt arbete med mäns våld mot kvinnor och hur det kan förstås utifrån den normativa teorin good governance. Uppsatsen avgränsas till att undersöka hur aktörerna upplever sitt arbete utifrån kapacitet och kompetens, transparens samt ansvar. För att genomföra undersökningen används kvalitativa intervjuer med representanter från fem olika offentliga aktörer, där en idéanalys tillämpas för att urskilja hur respondenterna upplever sitt arbete med mäns våld mot kvinnor. De offentliga aktörer som representeras i uppsatsen är Länsstyrelsen, Nationellt centrum för kvinnofrid (NCK), Polismyndigheten, Kriscentrum för kvinnor i Göteborgs Stad och Jämställdhetsmyndigheten. I uppsatsen dras slutsatsen att aktörerna upplever att det finns brister och förbättringsområden i deras arbete med mäns våld mot kvinnor. Ur ett good governance perspektiv behöver kunskap och kapacitet höjas och transparens, ansvarsfördelning och samverkan bli tydligare för att arbetet ska leva upp till kraven om vad som är en god samhällsstyrning.

This essay portrays the relationship building between social workers and abused women. Intimate partner violence is a social problem worldwide. It appears that the relationship building between social workers and abused women is crucial for how the women receive support. This highlights the need for further research on the relationship between social workers and abused women. The study is qualitative, consisting of eight interviews conducted using a semi-structured method with social workers who work with abused women. The purpose of this essay is to examine the perspective of social workers on building relationships with abused women. The central components that emerged from the results regarding the social workers' relationship-building abilities were empathy, sensitivity, validation of feelings, and knowledge of men's violence against women. An additional conclusion drawn from the results is that establishing relationships based on empowerment can contribute to the women gaining increased self-esteem, which in turn can motivate them to leave abusive situations and become self-sufficient. Through this study, we hope to contribute to further research on the relationship building between abused women and social workers, as well as identify potential challenges in establishing effective relationships.

Bakgrund: Mäns våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer är ett aktuellt samhällsproblem. Studenter som i sin framtida profession kan komma att möta människor som har blivit våldsutsatta ska visa på kunskap om mäns våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer för att kunna ta ut en examen. Kunskapskravet trädde i kraft 2018–2019 och omfattar åtta olika examen där jurist-, psykolog-, socionom-, tandhygienist- och sjuksköterskeprogrammet finns vid Karlstads universitet. Syfte: Syftet med detta arbete är att undersöka hur jurist-, psykolog-, socionom-, sjuksköterske-, tandhygienist- och lärarstudenter vid Karlstads universitet genom sin utbildning tillägnar sig kunskap om mäns våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer, samt hur undervisningen uppfattas av studenterna. Metod: Intervjuer med studierektorer, programledare och studenter vid nämnda program har utförts. Respondenterna har resonerat kring examination, undervisning och inlärning av kunskapsmålet vilket sedan har transkriberats och analyserats genom en tematisk analys. För att få en djupare inblick i hur examination och undervisning av kunskapsmålet skett så har en manifest innehållsanalys av utbildningsplaner, kursplaner och litteraturlistor genomförts för respektive program. För att kunna undersöka hur kunskapskravet implementerats hos de program som berörs av det så jämfördes resultatet med lärarprogrammen, vilka inte omfattas av kunskapskravet. Resultat: Kunskapsmålet inkluderats i utbildningsplaner, kursplaner ochlitteraturlistor. Respondenterna från utbildningar med kunskapskravet beskriver att det examineras främst genom seminarier och att kunskapskravet kräver reflektion. Slutsats: Kunskapskravet har implementerats i praktiken hos de utbildningar som omfattas av kravet. Studenter lär sig om mäns våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer genom reflektion. Konstruktiv länkning är en vanligt använd strategi inom området. / Background: Men's violence against women and domestic violence is a significant social issue. To better prepare students who may encounter victims of violence in their future professions they need to demonstrate knowledge of men's violence against women and domestic violence to graduate. The knowledge requirement was implemented in 2018-2019 and covers eight different programs at university level in which programs for degrees in law, psychology, social work, dental hygiene, and nursing are offered at Karlstad University. Objective: The aim of this study has been to investigate how students at programs for degrees in law, psychology, social work, dental hygiene, and nursing at Karlstad University learn about men's violence against women and domestic violence, as well as how the educations is perceived by the students. Method: Interviews with Directors of Studies, Program Directors and students from previously mentioned degree programs as well as the teaching programs at Karlstad University has been concluded. The respondents have discussed examination, teaching and learning of the knowledge objective, which has then been analysed using thematic analysis. To gain a deeper understanding of how the examination and teaching of the knowledge objective is implemented, curriculums, course syllabi and bibliographies has been analysed by content analysis. Comparisons were made between the programs covered by the knowledge requirement and teacher education programs not covered by the same requirements. Results: The knowledge requirement has been implemented in the curriculum, course syllabi and bibliographies. Interviews with respondents from the programs also suggests that the course requirement is being implemented. Respondents recommend examining men’s violence against women and domestic violence via seminars especially highlighting the importance of reflection for improving learning. Conclusions: The conclusions drawn are that the knowledge requirement has been implemented in practice in the programs with the requirement. Students learn about men’s violence against women and domestic violence through reflection. Constructive Alignment is a learning theory commonly used.