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Når retten sætter pris på krænkelse - Et sociologisk studie af tortgodtgørelse i danske voldtægtssager

Stubkjær Nissen, Andrea LU (2026) SOCM05 20261
Sociology
Abstract
This thesis examines how rape is assessed and valued in Danish court practices concerning
compensating rape victims for non-economic damage, and how these assessments can be
understood from a socio-legal and feminist perspective. The thesis investigates, what factors
are considered significant in the determination of compensation in rape cases, and how these
assessments can be understood in relation to perceptions of rape, gender, sexual autonomy,
and legal objectivity.
The study is based on a qualitative analysis of 13 Danish rape judgments and six interviews
with victim lawyers. The analysis draws on socio-legal and feminist legal theoretical
perspectives, including the work of Carol Smart, Susan Estrich, Martha Burt, and Nils
... (More)
This thesis examines how rape is assessed and valued in Danish court practices concerning
compensating rape victims for non-economic damage, and how these assessments can be
understood from a socio-legal and feminist perspective. The thesis investigates, what factors
are considered significant in the determination of compensation in rape cases, and how these
assessments can be understood in relation to perceptions of rape, gender, sexual autonomy,
and legal objectivity.
The study is based on a qualitative analysis of 13 Danish rape judgments and six interviews
with victim lawyers. The analysis draws on socio-legal and feminist legal theoretical
perspectives, including the work of Carol Smart, Susan Estrich, Martha Burt, and Nils
Christie.
The analysis indicates that compensation for rape is closely linked to factors such as physical
violence and active resistance, as these circumstances results in higher levels of
compensation. In contrast, cases characterized by passivity and lack of resistance are
typically awarded significantly lower compensation. The thesis further demonstrates how
these assessments may be linked to broader societal conceptions of what constitutes a “real
rape” and the “ideal victim”. Furthermore, the thesis argues that the court assessments are
presented as objective and standardized, even though they simultaneously rely on normative
and socially situated understandings of rape and violation. The thesis therefore argues that
compensation practices contribute to a hierarchization of different forms of rape and
violation. (Less)
Popular Abstract (Danish)
Hvis man bliver udsat for voldtægt i Danmark, kan man få tortgodtgørelse, som er en
økonomisk kompensation for den krænkelse, man har været udsat for. Dette speciale
undersøger, hvordan danske domstole vurderer og fastsætter denne godtgørelse i
voldtægtssager. Samtidig undersøger specialet, hvilke forhold der ser ud til at have betydning
for erstatningens størrelse, og om disse vurderinger potentielt kan sige noget om rettens
forståelse af voldtægt og krænkelse.
Undersøgelsen bygger på en analyse af 13 danske voldtægtsdomme samt interviews med 6
bistandsadvokater med erfaring fra voldtægtssager. Formålet har været at undersøge, hvorfor
nogle voldtægtssager udløser højere erstatning end andre.
Analysen viser, at sager med fysisk... (More)
Hvis man bliver udsat for voldtægt i Danmark, kan man få tortgodtgørelse, som er en
økonomisk kompensation for den krænkelse, man har været udsat for. Dette speciale
undersøger, hvordan danske domstole vurderer og fastsætter denne godtgørelse i
voldtægtssager. Samtidig undersøger specialet, hvilke forhold der ser ud til at have betydning
for erstatningens størrelse, og om disse vurderinger potentielt kan sige noget om rettens
forståelse af voldtægt og krænkelse.
Undersøgelsen bygger på en analyse af 13 danske voldtægtsdomme samt interviews med 6
bistandsadvokater med erfaring fra voldtægtssager. Formålet har været at undersøge, hvorfor
nogle voldtægtssager udløser højere erstatning end andre.
Analysen viser, at sager med fysisk vold, tvang og aktiv modstand fra offeret ofte fører til
højere tortgodtgørelse. Omvendt får sager, hvor forurettede eksempelvis sov, var stærkt
beruset eller på anden måde ikke var i stand til at modsætte sig handlingen, typisk væsentligt
lavere erstatning. Specialet peger dermed på, at ikke alle voldtægter vurderes ens i
erstatningspraksis.
Samtidig viser undersøgelsen, at disse vurderinger kan hænge sammen med bredere
forestillinger om, hvad der opfattes som en “rigtig” voldtægt og et “rigtigt” voldtægtsoffer.
Specialet peger også på, at domstolenes vurderinger fremstilles som objektive og ensartede,
selvom de samtidig bygger på sociale og kulturelle forestillinger om voldtægt, krænkelse og
troværdighed.
Specialet argumenterer derfor for, at tortgodtgørelse ikke kun handler om økonomisk
kompensation, men også om hvordan retten vurderer og værdisætter forskellige former for
voldtægt og krænkelse. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Stubkjær Nissen, Andrea LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOCM05 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Rape, victim, compensation, socio-legal studies
language
Danish
id
9248020
date added to LUP
2026-08-11 11:54:46
date last changed
2026-08-11 11:54:46
@misc{9248020,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines how rape is assessed and valued in Danish court practices concerning
compensating rape victims for non-economic damage, and how these assessments can be
understood from a socio-legal and feminist perspective. The thesis investigates, what factors
are considered significant in the determination of compensation in rape cases, and how these
assessments can be understood in relation to perceptions of rape, gender, sexual autonomy,
and legal objectivity.
The study is based on a qualitative analysis of 13 Danish rape judgments and six interviews
with victim lawyers. The analysis draws on socio-legal and feminist legal theoretical
perspectives, including the work of Carol Smart, Susan Estrich, Martha Burt, and Nils
Christie.
The analysis indicates that compensation for rape is closely linked to factors such as physical
violence and active resistance, as these circumstances results in higher levels of
compensation. In contrast, cases characterized by passivity and lack of resistance are
typically awarded significantly lower compensation. The thesis further demonstrates how
these assessments may be linked to broader societal conceptions of what constitutes a “real
rape” and the “ideal victim”. Furthermore, the thesis argues that the court assessments are
presented as objective and standardized, even though they simultaneously rely on normative
and socially situated understandings of rape and violation. The thesis therefore argues that
compensation practices contribute to a hierarchization of different forms of rape and
violation.}},
  author       = {{Stubkjær Nissen, Andrea}},
  language     = {{dan}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Når retten sætter pris på krænkelse - Et sociologisk studie af tortgodtgørelse i danske voldtægtssager}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}