51.
Lundgren, Silje, 1978-
(författare)
Heterosexual Havana : Ideals and hierarchies of gender and sexuality in contemporary Cuba
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Drawing on two periods of ethnographic fieldwork in Vedado, Havana, in 2004–2007, this dissertation analyses the interconnections between gender, sexuality, and heterosexuality. With theoretical inspiration from the works of Stevi Jackson and Beverley Skeggs, it discusses how the logics underlying heterosexual relations also regulate hierarchical gendered ideals. It examines how gendered conceptions of sexuality confirm a position of heterosexual desirability, and traces a specifically heterosexual gender construction of men and women as oppositional forces, glued together in a relationship of eroticized complementarity.Moreover, the dissertation shows that the everyday negotiation of ideals around gender and sexuality is characterized by constant hierarchization. It explores how the emic concept of ‘cultural level’ is used in a process of othering to mark moral distance and create a position of superiority. It also suggests that in post-crisis Cuba, the body has become a new site on which to inscribe distinction and mark privilege, as a way of navigating in a context of new and unfamiliar differentiations.The dissertation demonstrates how female eroticism, male eroticized performances in street interaction, and the female body ideal are central sites for establishing an image of national particularity. In this historic moment, these have also become sites for marking difference and creating hierarchies. The dissertation argues that inclusive and unifying conceptions of ‘Cubanness’ are both delineated and reinforced through exclusion and the demarcation of difference within this collectivity.This notion of the nation carries gendered and sexualized inscriptions. It has been constructed through the historical exclusion of non-heterosexuality, which has been closely connected to the consolidation of a specific ideal of masculinity. The dissertation analyses the destabilizing potential of a shift in Cuban sexual politics during the last two decades and explores how this might imply a new configuration of the relationship between gender and sexuality.
52.
Lundström, Ragnar, 1975-
(författare)
Den kalkylerande medborgaren : Bidragsfusk i svensk välfärdsdebatt 1990-2010
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This dissertation analyses discourse on benefit fraud in Sweden between 1990 and 2010. First, it maps general trends in public discourse about benefit fraud. This is done through a content analysis of news reporting about benefit fraud in four Swedish newspapers. This part of the dissertation shows that the number of published news articles about benefit fraud have increased significantly since 1990. Particularly large numbers of articles were published during the middle of the 1990s, and between 2002 and 2006. Second, a qualitative discourse analysis of talk about benefit fraud in news texts, political debates and government reports is conducted. During periods of intense news coverage about fraud, reporting is often clearly marked by traits generally associated with moral panics; constructing the phenomenon as seemingly more common than it in reality is, constructing cheaters as a threat to the moral fiber of society, and also claiming the need for counter-measures. The qualitative analysis furthermore focuses on how the relation-ships between different subject positions are constructed in the collected material. This part of the analysis shows that fraud discourse in Sweden during the past twenty years have shifted from a dominant focus on alleged cheating among immigrants in the early 1990s, to claims of abuse within the sickness insurance program after 2002. The analysis also shows that benefit fraud is constructed as a political problem using neoliberal discursive strategies that [1] reduce welfare policies to financial costs, [2] constitute benefit claimants as individually responsible for their inability to support themselves through regular work, and [3] articulate the welfare state as an instrument for the moral regulation of citizens.
53.
Norstedt, Maria
(författare)
Berättelser om stroke och arbetsliv : Att upptäcka styranderelationer
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
The starting point in this thesis is stroke inflicted individuals’ stories about their experience of stroke, relations in everyday life, and their relations and attempts to return to paid work with the objective of gaining a further understanding of what happens when inflicted by illness and/or disability in working age. Furthermore, it aims at understanding how social relations and ruling relations are connected to this process. Theoretically and methodologically, institutional ethnography is made use of thereby accounting for different actors’ perspectives on a process in everyday life, what is referred to as a problematic within institutional ethnography. The analysis is based on semi structured interviews with stroke inflicted persons between 42-65 years and professionals from Health Care, Employment Agencies, and the Social Insurance Office. Despite differences between the stroke inflicted and the professionals’ stories about their experiences and practices, they had one goal in common; making possible for the inflicted persons to return to working life. Such a goal is related to mainly two ruling relations: employability and normality. What was referred to as normal differed between the stroke inflicted informants but they all referred to their lives before the stroke and they all mentioned that they hoped to get back to working life in one way or another. This understanding of what is normal was reinforced by institutional practices among the professionals. No matter the organization they worked in, the professionals’ goal was to get stroke inflicted persons back to lives that were as similar as possible to their lives before the stroke. The stories of the professionals make it clear how a return to working life is considered to be the best alternative. A strong focus on full participation in working life must be understood in the light of changes in the Swedish welfare state where a basic principle, the work strategy, has come to mean employability and lifelong learning. This thesis contributes to a broader understanding of normality than merely as a norm. Normality as a ruling relation can be traced in practices and stories of the professionals and stroke inflicted informants, thus showing how certain ruling relations impinge on individuals’ attempts to return to working life after a stroke. Furthermore, by understanding the stroke inflicted informants’ stories as testimonies the analysis suggest that even though ruling relations such as normality and employability, limits the individuals’ space for action, these persons have a certain agency. However, the importance is emphasized of also taking a step further by giving such testimonies and illness stories proper value and placing them in a context where questions of power and ruling relations are made visible.
54.
55.
Padyab, Mojgan, 1976-
(författare)
Client violence toward Iranian social workers : A national study
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Introduction Client violence toward social workers has become recognized as a common problem, and major concern has been raised with regard to its impacts on the workers’ practice, and physical and psychological health. More than half a century has passed since the social work profession was established in Iran, and yet client violence and the associated health-related consequences remain unexplored. This thesis aims to address this gap in knowledge. Methods A national survey was conducted involving 390 social workers from the Centres for Socially Injured People (CSIP), affiliated to the Social Affairs Department of the State Welfare Organization, Iran. The survey included self-administered questionnaires, namely, the Workplace Violence in the Health Sector questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), the Ways of Coping questionnaire, the Burnout Measure, and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. Results A high proportion of CSIP social workers (67%) have experienced violence. Psychological violence was about three times more common than physical violence. A high tendency of not reporting psychological violence to managers/supervisors was found. Psychological violence was associated with poorer mental health. Social workers with experience of psychological violence were found to be more worried about occurrences of violent events. Worrying about violence was significantly correlated with poorer mental health. Active coping had a direct effect on health, suggesting a poorer health status with more frequent use of active coping. Burnout was experienced by 10.9% of social workers, and 17.4% were found to be at risk of developing burnout symptoms. Low self-esteem and experience of violence were associated with burnout. Conclusion The results suggest the importance of not neglecting cases of client violence and of putting the health and safety of social workers on top of the agenda. A victimized social worker with limited resources at work needs to note that coping skills may reduce the impact of stressors, not only by changing the stressors themselves, but also by changing how the social worker responds to them.
56.
Premberg, Åsa, 1955
(författare)
Förstagångsfäders upplevelser av föräldrautbildning, förlossning och första året som far
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
In many western societies, fathers have traditionally assumed the role of breadwinner in the family, leaving responsibilities for parenting to the mother. It was not until the late 20th century that their role as participating and caring fathers evolved, and fathers began to be involved in childbirth and childbirth education. Childbirth education had previously been designed only for the mothers-to-be and was adapted to incorporate the needs of the fathers. The benefit of fathers in the delivery room is important; their participation enhances the future mothers’ well-being and the fathers’ attachment to the child. Recent studies have revealed that fathers experience their participation as positive and exciting, but demanding and requiring support. Since first-time fathers are known to be especially vulnerable, more research focusing on first-time fathers is needed to further investigate their experiences during childbirth education, labour and delivery, and during their first year as fathers, both to identify the fathers’ own needs of support as well as to identify fathers whose needs of support have not been met. The aim of the thesis was to explore first-time fathers’ experiences of childbirth education, childbirth and the first year as father. Studies I –III describe fathers’ experiences of childbirth education (I), childbirth (II) and the first year as a father (III). Study IV reports on the development and validation of an instrument for assessing fathers’ experiences and needs during labour and birth. Method: In studies I -III descriptive phenomenological interview studies with first-time fathers were carried out. In study IV a questionnaire was developed and validated with exploratory factor analysis, multitrait scaling analysis and known group’s analysis. Findings: Study I: The fathers’ experiences’ of childbirth education can be described as ‘childbirth education takes a secondary role while simultaneously creating preparedness for birth and fatherhood’. Study II: The first-time fathers’ experiences’ of childbirth was that it is an interwoven process pendulating between euphoria and agony. Study III: The fathers’ experiences of the first year as father is to place the baby in the centre without giving up one’s self. Study IV: Factor analysis yielded four factors comprising 22 items accounting 48.6% of the variance. The domains found were Worry, Information, Emotional support and Acceptance. Conclusion and implications: In order to provide support it is necessary to develop childbirth education so it better suits both parents. Designing groups for prospective fathers to strengthen their role in the transition to parenthood could be important. First-time fathers’ experience of the woman’s pain, fear of the unknown and the gendered preconceptions of masculine hegemony can be difficult to bear for the father-to-be. To maintain and strengthen childbirth as a mutually shared experience for the couple, the father needs to be recognised and supported both as supporter and as parent-to-be. Midwives and other caregivers have to acknowledge the father as a valued participant with exclusive knowledge of the woman’s needs, but also to be aware of fathers’ needs and the impact of gender aspects. Critical during the first year of fatherhood is that the fathers maintain his own integrity and develop an independent relationship with the child. The assessment instrument adequately taps important aspects of first-time fathers’ experiences of childbirth and may be a useful and sensitive tool for assessing their experiences and needs at labour wards and may be used to help identify fathers in need of extra support and counselling following negative birth experiences
57.
Rahman, Mashiur
(författare)
Struggling Against Exclusion : Adibasi in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This study provides an overview of social policy and poverty among ethnic minorities (Adibasi)in Bangladesh,with a special focus on the Chakma people belonging to the Sonai and Mayni localities,situated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts(CHT).The main argument in this thesis concerns their struggle against exclusion which is an indispensable part of policy studies.In my work,I concentrate on the historical processes and the current situation among the Adibasi,characterized by social exclusion, deprivation and poverty.Furthermore,I discuss the peace process,and attempts to create integration and cohesion in the CHT.An integral part of my work consists of qualitative and quantitative data obtained from nine different hamlets (para) inhabited by the Adibasi.The findings are used to show how the Adibasi have been deprived of their land,emphasizing in particular the arrival of settlers,army occupation,as well as various government projects initiated during different regimes.In addition,I discuss the conflicts that have risen due to land grabbing,forced migration and displacement.
58.
Ringström, Jonas
(författare)
Mellan sanning och konsekvens : En studie av den tredje generationens kognitiva beteendeterapier
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Avhandlingen är en analys av vad som kommit att kallas för den tredje generationens kognitiva beteendeterapier, här representerade av Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, den metakognitiva terapimodellen och dialektisk beteendeterapi. Avhandlingen kan delas in i två övergripande delar. I den första delen utarbetas den begreppsapparat som användas i analysen. Nedslag görs först och främst i Gaston Bachelards, Georges Canguilhems, Michel Foucaults och Louis Althussers bidrag till den teoretiska tradition som går under namnet historisk epistemologi. Den röda tråden i denna första del är hur förutsättningarna för och konsekvenserna av människovetenskapernas ställning i det västerländska samhället under det senaste seklet har förståtts. Mellan vetenskapen och vardagskunskapen har det enligt dessa författare skett ett epistemologiskt brott. Ett epistemologiskt brott sker då det vetenskapliga tänkandet ifrågasätter de begrepp och förklaringar som den vardagliga kunskapen består av. Avhandlingen placeras här även in i en bredare vetenskapsteoretisk och kunskapssociologisk kontext. Den andra delen utgör avhandlingens empiriska del. Här analyseras de förklaringsmodeller av psykiskt lidande och psykisk hälsa som används i de tre terapimodellerna. Dessa terapier bygger samtliga på ett antagande om att patientens problem försvåras och ibland till och med skapas av de strategier som patienten använder för att förändra eller ta kontroll över sina känslor, tankar och handlingar. Terapierna ska därför ses som en intervention i patientens förhållningssätt till känslor, tankar och handlingar. Terapins syfte är att tillhandahålla nya, mer ändamålsenliga sätt för patienten att förhålla sig till sig själv och sina problem. I avhandlingen vänds sedan blicken mot de tekniker som används i terapin för att intervenera i det psykiska lidandet. Analysen visar med hjälp av bland annat begreppet epistemologiskt brott hur terapi kan förstås som ett möte mellan två former av kunskap (vetenskaplig och vardaglig), samt hur de använda teknikerna utgör en brygga mellan terapiteorins abstrakta begrepp och patientens erfarenheter och kunskap. Avhandlingen argumenterar utifrån bland annat Althusser och Foucault för att en av terapins viktigaste funktioner är att förklara hur patienten skapar ett förhållande till sig själv, samt erbjuda nya verktyg för att förändra detta förhållande. Avhandlingen utgör en analys av denna förändringsprocess samt av dess möjligheter och gränser.
59.
Sandvall, Lisbeth, 1955-
(författare)
Överskuldsättningens ansikten : En studie av vägar in i och ut ur ekonomiska svårigheter
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to increase the understanding and awareness of what the pathways into and out of debt problems can look like, why people get into bad debt situations, how problems are handled and how they are perceived.The empirical data is based on semi-structured narrative interviews with 32 people who can relate to a debt settlement in three ways, either by just having applied for a debt settlement, finding themselves in the midst of a debt settlement or being debt-free since a few years back. The material is analyzed in terms relating to the processes, strategies and impact factors surrounding debt problems and debt settlements.Debt problems can either happen slowly and gradually or arise suddenly and unexpectedly. The causes may be an interaction between individual and structural factors. Both coping strategies and influencing factors can change over time and depend on where in the debt process one is. The results show that the coping strategies vary from active to passive, from open to closed, where the determining factors are mainly how one was treated/ received, one's health, age, sense of shame and guilt, social relationships, as well as the causes of debt. The results show how there is interplay between individual and structural factors in terms of causes, but also in the strategies and approaches expressed. The coping strategies are influenced and changed with the time scale over the debt process. Women have a risk to a greater extent than men to suffer from debt problems without having spent any money, but instead by acting as co-signer or guarantor.The conclusion is that debt problems do not just affect a certain group of individuals, but that anyone can in principle be affected by excessive debt. What becomes clear is that there is not only one but several ways into and out of debt problems in which both individual and structural factors are important. Although there is a way out of excessive debt problems through debt relief law, results show that the solution extends over time and has far-reaching consequences for both individuals and society.
60.
Sarajeva, Katja, 1977-
(författare)
Lesbian Lives : Sexuality, Space and Subculture in Moscow
2011
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This study is an exploration of the lesbian subculture in Russia focusing in particular on the subculture as a unique heterogeneous space of social interaction and cultural production that is not self contained or isolated from mainstream society, but incorporates a variety of cultural flows and traditions that are a part of Russian mainstream culture, other Russian subcultures, or global cultural flows. Some of these cultural flows and traditions are more compatible than other ones.The increasingly globalized images and ideas of what a gay and lesbian community is, or perhaps should be like, are only partially compatible with contemporary reality in Russia. The high value placed on visibility and explicitly political, even radical activism, in gay and lesbian subcultures in the West, must in Russia be reconciled not only with the totalitarian past, and the increasingly authoritarian present, but also with the traditions and practices that developed as a response to the repressive regime and enabled people to live and even thrive within it. Using private spaces as public space, and public space as private space established a practice of multilayered spaces that are continuously maintained through social inclusion and exclusion, visibility and invisibility.However, the subculture is not only an intersection of external cultural flows and traditions, it also has it’s own unique traditions, knowledges and practices. Poetry, music, literature and art form the backbone of the flow of activities within the subculture. Visual and grammatical cues, styles, jokes and lesbian genders are integral aspects of the subculture as it is continuously renegotiated by its participants also on an individual level..The study is based on fieldwork, participant observation and interviews, mainly in Moscow, and to some extent in St Petersburg, during 2005 with recurring visits during 2006 and 2007.
