Rather than being subject of democratic discussion, responsibility for questions of political character, such as climate change, have in a post-political time become decentralised and focused on individual self-regulation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how individual experiences of responsibility can be understood. This is examined by analysing individual responsibility in relation to climate change and perceived political agency. Today’s individualisation of responsibility in relation to climate change is focused primarily on behaviour and consumption related to the household and a traditionally feminine sphere, and research shows how women are more likely than men to take and experience responsibility in relation to the issue. Followingly, women have been chosen as informants in this study. The empirical material consists of ten semi-structured interviews with women in Umeå. The material has been analysed applying theories of emotions and an ecofeminist understanding of ethical actors and normative dualisms. The study shows how emotions are complexly intertwined with how responsibility is experienced and acted upon where the feeling of responsibility interacts with practical action. Distinctions between one’s private feelings and actions and the public, rational politics as well as a distrust in political action and meta-level actors to take on responsibility hinders the individual from visualising alternative futures and engaging in political conversations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:umu-173009 |
| Date | January 2020 |
| Creators | Sundström, Kristin |
| Publisher | Umeå universitet, Umeå centrum för genusstudier (UCGS) |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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