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Skyddsvärda intressen & straffvärda kränkningar. Om sexualbrotten i det straffrättsliga systemet med utgångspunkt i brottet sexuellt ofredande

Wegerstad, Linnéa LU (2015)
Abstract
What is considered a sexual offense and what constitutes the sexual integrity protected by Swedish criminal law? Through a comprehensive historical, theoretical and doctrinal analysis, this thesis considers the question of how distinctions between sexual and other forms of violence, abuse or harassment are made in criminal law.



Firstly, the thesis explores the emergence of sexual offenses in the period when modern criminal law was formed. In parallel with the law’s own narrative of the history of sexual offenses the thesis shows that a different story can be discerned whereby sexual offenses are created through erotic sexuality. This means that sexuality is formulated as something positive and in itself worthy of... (More)
What is considered a sexual offense and what constitutes the sexual integrity protected by Swedish criminal law? Through a comprehensive historical, theoretical and doctrinal analysis, this thesis considers the question of how distinctions between sexual and other forms of violence, abuse or harassment are made in criminal law.



Firstly, the thesis explores the emergence of sexual offenses in the period when modern criminal law was formed. In parallel with the law’s own narrative of the history of sexual offenses the thesis shows that a different story can be discerned whereby sexual offenses are created through erotic sexuality. This means that sexuality is formulated as something positive and in itself worthy of protection. It also reveals contradictions in the understanding of sexual offenses when sexual offenses are described both in terms of gendered violence and in terms of gender neutral sexuality.



Secondly, Niklas Luhmann's theory of law as an autopoietic system is used to show how sexual offenses are created anew – reproduced – through every communication of the legal system. Particular attention is given to the crime of sexual harassment (ch. 6 sec. 10 Penal Code). The reason is that this is a crime in which a specific requirement has been articulated by courts, namely that the act has a sexual nature. By showing that meaning is given to this requirement at the moment it refers to the system’s environment, the tautology of the legal system is unveiled: this is sexual harassment because (the court says) it is sexual harassment. However, court decisions are structured by recursive references to what has been decided before in the legal system. Through this structuring sexual offenses are understood as grounded in the body, particularly the genitals, but also related to the victim’s integrity and the motive and mind of the offender. It is concluded that the outer limit of sexual offenses and the sexual integrity it aims to protect become dependent upon the perpetrator’s sexual interest in performing the act. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Popular Abstract in Swedish

I den här doktorsavhandlingen undersöker Linnea Wegerstad hur sexualbrott urskiljs från andra typer av våld och kränkningar i straffrätten. Författaren utforskar hur sedlighetsbrott blev till sexualbrott under första hälften av 1900-talet och hur ett särskilt skyddsvärt intresse då skapades: den sexuella integriteten. Genom att också undersöka lagstiftningsreformer från brottsbalkens tillkomst år 1965 till 2013 års sexualbrottsreform synliggör avhandlingen motstridigheter kring vad som bör rymmas i den sexuella integriteten. Vidare utforskar författaren hur sexualbrotten skapas genom att ta utgångspunkt i brottet sexuellt ofredande. En analys av domstolsavgöranden rörande sexuellt ofredande visar... (More)
Popular Abstract in Swedish

I den här doktorsavhandlingen undersöker Linnea Wegerstad hur sexualbrott urskiljs från andra typer av våld och kränkningar i straffrätten. Författaren utforskar hur sedlighetsbrott blev till sexualbrott under första hälften av 1900-talet och hur ett särskilt skyddsvärt intresse då skapades: den sexuella integriteten. Genom att också undersöka lagstiftningsreformer från brottsbalkens tillkomst år 1965 till 2013 års sexualbrottsreform synliggör avhandlingen motstridigheter kring vad som bör rymmas i den sexuella integriteten. Vidare utforskar författaren hur sexualbrotten skapas genom att ta utgångspunkt i brottet sexuellt ofredande. En analys av domstolsavgöranden rörande sexuellt ofredande visar att en handlings sexuella karaktär ofta är något som är underförstått i straffrätten. Men när frågan ställs på sin spets är det gärningspersonens motiv och avsikt som blir avgörande för om en handling är ett sexuellt ofredande. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • docent Burman, Monica, Umeå universitet
organization
alternative title
Values worthy of legal protection and violations that deserve to be punished. Sexual offences in Swedish criminal law with the offence of sexual harassment as the starting point
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
law as a social system, Luhmann, gender, sexuality, history, sexual molestation, sexual violence, sexual harassment, feminist legal theory, criminal law, criminal justice policy, straffrätt
pages
340 pages
publisher
Lund University (Media-Tryck)
defense location
Pufendorfsalen, Juridiska institutionen, Lilla Gråbrödersgatan 3 C, Lund
defense date
2015-03-20 10:15:00
ISBN
978-91-7623-247-7
978-91-7623-248-4
language
Swedish
LU publication?
yes
id
72999f85-2bd0-4b83-8271-b74e5bd6bd60 (old id 5049610)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:52:49
date last changed
2023-03-23 10:12:28
@phdthesis{72999f85-2bd0-4b83-8271-b74e5bd6bd60,
  abstract     = {{What is considered a sexual offense and what constitutes the sexual integrity protected by Swedish criminal law? Through a comprehensive historical, theoretical and doctrinal analysis, this thesis considers the question of how distinctions between sexual and other forms of violence, abuse or harassment are made in criminal law. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Firstly, the thesis explores the emergence of sexual offenses in the period when modern criminal law was formed. In parallel with the law’s own narrative of the history of sexual offenses the thesis shows that a different story can be discerned whereby sexual offenses are created through erotic sexuality. This means that sexuality is formulated as something positive and in itself worthy of protection. It also reveals contradictions in the understanding of sexual offenses when sexual offenses are described both in terms of gendered violence and in terms of gender neutral sexuality. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Secondly, Niklas Luhmann's theory of law as an autopoietic system is used to show how sexual offenses are created anew – reproduced – through every communication of the legal system. Particular attention is given to the crime of sexual harassment (ch. 6 sec. 10 Penal Code). The reason is that this is a crime in which a specific requirement has been articulated by courts, namely that the act has a sexual nature. By showing that meaning is given to this requirement at the moment it refers to the system’s environment, the tautology of the legal system is unveiled: this is sexual harassment because (the court says) it is sexual harassment. However, court decisions are structured by recursive references to what has been decided before in the legal system. Through this structuring sexual offenses are understood as grounded in the body, particularly the genitals, but also related to the victim’s integrity and the motive and mind of the offender. It is concluded that the outer limit of sexual offenses and the sexual integrity it aims to protect become dependent upon the perpetrator’s sexual interest in performing the act.}},
  author       = {{Wegerstad, Linnéa}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-7623-247-7}},
  keywords     = {{law as a social system; Luhmann; gender; sexuality; history; sexual molestation; sexual violence; sexual harassment; feminist legal theory; criminal law; criminal justice policy; straffrätt}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University (Media-Tryck)}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Skyddsvärda intressen & straffvärda kränkningar. Om sexualbrotten i det straffrättsliga systemet med utgångspunkt i brottet sexuellt ofredande}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5642783/5049634.pdf}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}