The Construction of Sex Trafficking - Swedish Policy-making, Effects and the Complexity of a Global Social Problem
(2021) SOCM04 20211Sociology
Department of Sociology
- Abstract
- Author: Tekla Münger
Title: The Construction of Sex Trafficking – Swedish Policy-making, Effects and the Complexity of a Global Social Problem
Master’s thesis SOCM04 Cultural Criminology, 30 credits
Supervisor: Erik Hannerz
Department of Sociology, spring 2021
The purpose of this qualitative study is to analyse how sex trafficking is constructed and represented as a social problem in policy documents. Further, to investigate how the problem representation of sex trafficking impacts the work of public and non-governmental organisations, and in the end the victim’s right to support and protection. Departing from those premises, a policy analysis of documents that sets the frame for how sex trafficking is handled in Sweden today has... (More) - Author: Tekla Münger
Title: The Construction of Sex Trafficking – Swedish Policy-making, Effects and the Complexity of a Global Social Problem
Master’s thesis SOCM04 Cultural Criminology, 30 credits
Supervisor: Erik Hannerz
Department of Sociology, spring 2021
The purpose of this qualitative study is to analyse how sex trafficking is constructed and represented as a social problem in policy documents. Further, to investigate how the problem representation of sex trafficking impacts the work of public and non-governmental organisations, and in the end the victim’s right to support and protection. Departing from those premises, a policy analysis of documents that sets the frame for how sex trafficking is handled in Sweden today has been critically examined. Moreover, nine interviews with professionals working in the public sector and at non-governmental organisations have been conducted. The analysis departs from a constructivist perspective and Bacchi’s analytical method for policy analysis. The theoretical framework is complemented with intersectional theory and concepts regarding the welfare system and global inequality. The main findings of the study are that sex trafficking mainly is represented as a criminal issue in policy documents, rather than a global, social, economic and cultural problem. As a consequence, the public support system for victims becomes clearly connected to their legal status and to the criminal law process, which results in that victims that do not “fit the frame” do not get access to the public support system. This put a lot of responsibility on non-governmental organisations, that can offer support outside the bureaucratic frames. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Sex trafficking is a subject that evokes a lot of emotions. It involves elements such as global organized crime, gender inequality, cultural differences, poverty and ruthless exploitation of individuals. It is a widespread social issue with victims and perpetrators from all over the world. But what happens when you take a global organized crime and put it in a Swedish context?
In this study, I have analysed policy documents that set the frame for how sex trafficking is handled in Sweden today. How is the crime, and especially the victimhood perceived? What is the main focus in the policy documents, and are there certain areas of the crime or the victimhood that is unproblematized or left completely in silence? What becomes clear when... (More) - Sex trafficking is a subject that evokes a lot of emotions. It involves elements such as global organized crime, gender inequality, cultural differences, poverty and ruthless exploitation of individuals. It is a widespread social issue with victims and perpetrators from all over the world. But what happens when you take a global organized crime and put it in a Swedish context?
In this study, I have analysed policy documents that set the frame for how sex trafficking is handled in Sweden today. How is the crime, and especially the victimhood perceived? What is the main focus in the policy documents, and are there certain areas of the crime or the victimhood that is unproblematized or left completely in silence? What becomes clear when studying the policy documents, is that sex trafficking mainly is perceived to be a criminal issue, rather than a global social problem in policy documents. This impacts what kind of help and support that is offered for victims of sex trafficking, and most importantly, who has access to the support system.
The focus on the criminal law process and the limitations in policy regulation regarding the victimhood correlated with what was stated in the interview sessions that I conducted with actors that work against sex trafficking in the public and non-profit sector. In my interview sessions, the respondents expressed frustration over the limited support the public system can offer, and which often is dependent on the victim’s legal status or their status in the criminal law process. This has resulted in that a lot of responsibility has been laid on non-governmental organisations, that can offer support and help outside the bureaucratic frames. Reducing the complexity of a global, social, economic and cultural problem into a Swedish crime, impacts in other words victim’s right to support and protection. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9055667
- author
- Münger, Tekla LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SOCM04 20211
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Keywords: sex trafficking, victims, policy analysis, public sector, non-governmental organisations, Bacchi, intersectionality
- language
- English
- id
- 9055667
- date added to LUP
- 2021-06-17 09:51:56
- date last changed
- 2021-06-17 09:51:56
@misc{9055667,
abstract = {{Author: Tekla Münger
Title: The Construction of Sex Trafficking – Swedish Policy-making, Effects and the Complexity of a Global Social Problem
Master’s thesis SOCM04 Cultural Criminology, 30 credits
Supervisor: Erik Hannerz
Department of Sociology, spring 2021
The purpose of this qualitative study is to analyse how sex trafficking is constructed and represented as a social problem in policy documents. Further, to investigate how the problem representation of sex trafficking impacts the work of public and non-governmental organisations, and in the end the victim’s right to support and protection. Departing from those premises, a policy analysis of documents that sets the frame for how sex trafficking is handled in Sweden today has been critically examined. Moreover, nine interviews with professionals working in the public sector and at non-governmental organisations have been conducted. The analysis departs from a constructivist perspective and Bacchi’s analytical method for policy analysis. The theoretical framework is complemented with intersectional theory and concepts regarding the welfare system and global inequality. The main findings of the study are that sex trafficking mainly is represented as a criminal issue in policy documents, rather than a global, social, economic and cultural problem. As a consequence, the public support system for victims becomes clearly connected to their legal status and to the criminal law process, which results in that victims that do not “fit the frame” do not get access to the public support system. This put a lot of responsibility on non-governmental organisations, that can offer support outside the bureaucratic frames.}},
author = {{Münger, Tekla}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The Construction of Sex Trafficking - Swedish Policy-making, Effects and the Complexity of a Global Social Problem}},
year = {{2021}},
}