A double deviant : A qualitative study about student´s of social work views on women´s crime

The purpose of this study has been to survey Swedish students of social workers views on gender in correlation to delinquency. By doing so, we hoped to gain knowledge in how opinions on gender differences are constructed, with focus on femininity. The study was conducted through interviews with two focus groups, containing two vignette case. In total, 12 students of social work from the Linnéuniversitetet in Växjö participated and the students where participating in different semesters of the social work program. The material was analyzed through a quality content analysis and interpreted based on Hirdmans theory on gender. The results showed that the student's views and opinions on gender and crime affected their construction of gender differences. The students reported male and female beliefs that were in line with what crimes men and women do. The survey also showed that the student's excused women's delinquency, which was not shown when asked for opinions on men's crime