The objective of this article is to analyze how women who have been victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) position themselves in relation to the image of the "ideal victim" and how gender is constructed in that positioning. There is a need for a gender analysis framework to understand how various forms of femininity are constructed and how narratives linked to this can either maintain a woman in an abusive relationship or encourage her to leave. Christie's theory of the "ideal victim" and Connell's gender theory are applied in this study, in which the narratives of 14 female IPV victims in Sweden are analyzed using a narrative method. Three strings of narratives, representing different forms of femininity, are revealed in the material. The master narrative of the ideal victim reveals a form of femininity that describes women as inferior in relation to men. In the alternative narrative, the narrator positions herself as inferior in relation to the offender but discusses resistance. She describes herself as a caring mother who risks a great deal to protect her children. In the counter-narrative, the narrator positions herself as strong and independent in relation to the offender and as a strong and caring mother. The positioning of different narrators may shift depending on the duration of the relationship and the type of violence. The narrator may also take different positions during different phases of the story. However, the dominant narrative among the narrators is the story of the caring mother, which may have several functions and can partially be understood as a sign of the strong discourse of motherhood in society. The study contributes to a more profound understanding of the complexity related to women's own positioning and reveals that awareness is required when attempting to understand the narratives and behavior of abused women.

Girls face gendered violence on an everyday basis, and this may have severe health consequences.Purpose: The aim of this study was to learn about gendered violence facing girls in rural Sweden in their everyday life, as it is experienced by the girls themselves. Method: Using the photovoice method, we worked with 35 girls in an upper secondary school, aged between 16 and 20, to explore how they navigated social spaces and developed strategies for increased safety. Results: Thematic analysis revealed two main themes (constant fear and strategies) and four sub themes (fear of being raped, fear of being labelled and excluded, being "appropriately" sexually active, and appearance and performance for increased feelings of safety). Conclusion: We considered how gendered violence facing girls led to fear and marginalization in a range of situations and interactions. Consequently, girls occupied significantly smaller social spaces compared to boys, and we argue that this was reproduced and upheld through everyday practices informed by hegemonic masculinity and performativity.

This study aims to map, locate and make visible the everyday experiences of newly arrived immigrants in government-sponsored integration activities and to trace how these experiences are linked to changes in policy. The study pays particular attention to the dynamic nature of integration and draws links between personal, organisational and policy domains while analysing shifting integration policies from the standpoint of immigrants. Swedish integration policy has undergone vast changes during recent years as the government implements one of the largest changes in Swedish history, beginning in 2010. With this came an emphasis on employment and workfare over welfare. Consequently, the rhetoric of integration in Sweden also changed from what in municipalities was called an introduction to a sense of establishment. By examining the subjective views of immigrants, we discuss the lived experiences of individuals who are subjected to and employed in different occupations due to various integration regimes.

Research has shown for decades that gendered violence against girls and women is a major public health problem with devastating long-term health consequences for individuals and communities alike. Knowledge of gendered violence against girls and young women thus needs to be increased not only in urban, but also in rural areas, and from girls’ own perspectives. Research methods should also be developed that will facilitate the possibility of reaching policy makers, i.e. to reach those with the power to bring about social change. This study had two main goals. The first was to use photovoice as a methodology to gain increased knowledge about gendered violence against girls and young women in rural Sweden, while the second was to discuss the potential of reaching social change through photovoice as well as offer some critique. We worked with 35 adolescent girls enrolled in an upper secondary school in rural Sweden. Six workshops, which focused on (un)safety, different forms of violence, and the consequences of violence, were analyzed with an action-oriented approach and content analysis. The photovoice material also resulted in an exhibition that was used to reach policy makers. The findings show that the girls’ ability to control their own lives was limited and that a number of different situations in their everyday lives were related to a reduced sense of space and reduced sense of agency. The findings also highlight that the girls were constantly sexually harassed online, which created a feeling of being unable to escape. We argue that photovoice is suitable in mediating girls’ perspectives and in engaging and informing key policy makers, although the method alone cannot assure social change.