Breaking Norms : Depictions of Violent Girls in Swedish Newspapers

• This study explores the portrayal of girls engaged in violence within Swedish newspapers, focusing on contemporary representations in the media landscape. News media plays a pivotal role in shaping societal perceptions and norms, including those surrounding violence and gender. Analyzing media depictions of girls’ violence is crucial as it influences our understanding of gender norms and violence. We examined newspaper articles from 2021 to discern how violent girls were depicted, the portrayal of their actions, and whether they were given agency in the narratives. Utilizing gender theory with an intersectional lens, we scrutinized how Swedish media reported on and portrayed girls’ violence. Three key themes emerged: the characteristics of violent girls, the forms of violence, and explanations for their behavior. Notably, explanations for girls’ violence often focused narrowly on individual or relational factors, neglecting broader social contexts. Additionally, the girls were rarely given a platform to express their perspectives. Media portrayals positioned them as deviant from both feminine and violent norms, reinforcing societal stereotypes.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Genusstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Gender Studies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Girls

Violence

Media

Femininity

Gender

flickor

våld

media

femininitet

genus

Socialt arbete

Social Work

Social Work

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)