Sårbara grupper – en förklaringsmodell med risker: En studie av styrdokument om våld i nära relation
(2025) RÄSK02 20251Department of Sociology of Law
- Abstract
- This study aims to examine if, and how, nine municipalities in Skåne, Sweden, adopt an intersectional view in their governing documents regarding intimate partner violence, focusing on the portrayal of “vulnerable groups”. With an interpretive content analysis and the guidance of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theoretical framework of intersectionality and Carol Smart’s critical perspective on law and power, the study aims to analyse how the documents portray vulnerability. The findings in this study reveal that the term intersectionality is used in one governing document alone. In contrast, other documents describe vulnerable groups in a way that could reflect an additive rather than an interdisciplinary intersectional understanding. Furthermore,... (More)
- This study aims to examine if, and how, nine municipalities in Skåne, Sweden, adopt an intersectional view in their governing documents regarding intimate partner violence, focusing on the portrayal of “vulnerable groups”. With an interpretive content analysis and the guidance of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theoretical framework of intersectionality and Carol Smart’s critical perspective on law and power, the study aims to analyse how the documents portray vulnerability. The findings in this study reveal that the term intersectionality is used in one governing document alone. In contrast, other documents describe vulnerable groups in a way that could reflect an additive rather than an interdisciplinary intersectional understanding. Furthermore, the documents rarely address that identities can overlap and how this overlapping could enhance the individual's vulnerability. The analysis demonstrates a tendency to homogenise vulnerable groups and thereby reinforce stereotypes of the groups. Smart’s theoretical framework highlights how documents, which are seen as an extension of legal power, could potentially produce and reproduce normative hierarchies. By doing so, the documents could also be seen as framing vulnerability as a trait within the individual rather than a consequence of a systemic failure. By criticising the use of an intersectional approach in governing documents, the study contributes to socio-legal research in finding solutions to better address the complexities of intimate partner violence. It enhances the need for policies that go beyond categorical labelling to recognise the power structures within the policies and tailor support to meet individuals’ intersectional needs. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9207223
- author
- Ellerstrand, Amanda LU and Olsson, Emma LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- RÄSK02 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- intersectionality, intimate partner violence, power, vulnerability, vulnerable groups. intersektionalitet, makt, sårbara grupper, sårbarhet, våld i nära relation.
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9207223
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-11 14:30:33
- date last changed
- 2025-08-11 14:30:33
@misc{9207223,
abstract = {{This study aims to examine if, and how, nine municipalities in Skåne, Sweden, adopt an intersectional view in their governing documents regarding intimate partner violence, focusing on the portrayal of “vulnerable groups”. With an interpretive content analysis and the guidance of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theoretical framework of intersectionality and Carol Smart’s critical perspective on law and power, the study aims to analyse how the documents portray vulnerability. The findings in this study reveal that the term intersectionality is used in one governing document alone. In contrast, other documents describe vulnerable groups in a way that could reflect an additive rather than an interdisciplinary intersectional understanding. Furthermore, the documents rarely address that identities can overlap and how this overlapping could enhance the individual's vulnerability. The analysis demonstrates a tendency to homogenise vulnerable groups and thereby reinforce stereotypes of the groups. Smart’s theoretical framework highlights how documents, which are seen as an extension of legal power, could potentially produce and reproduce normative hierarchies. By doing so, the documents could also be seen as framing vulnerability as a trait within the individual rather than a consequence of a systemic failure. By criticising the use of an intersectional approach in governing documents, the study contributes to socio-legal research in finding solutions to better address the complexities of intimate partner violence. It enhances the need for policies that go beyond categorical labelling to recognise the power structures within the policies and tailor support to meet individuals’ intersectional needs.}},
author = {{Ellerstrand, Amanda and Olsson, Emma}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Sårbara grupper – en förklaringsmodell med risker: En studie av styrdokument om våld i nära relation}},
year = {{2025}},
}