In a feminist state? : sexual violence and gender equality in Sweden

According to the World Economic Forum, Sweden ranks as one of the most women-friendly countries in the world and has been called a “gender equal utopia” (Fiig 2009: 199). Yet at the same time, Sweden has one of the highest reported rates of sexual violence in the world. What explains the paradox of Sweden’s high reported rate of rape and high level of gender equality? By engaging in multi-method fieldwork inspired by Dorothy Smith’s institutional ethnography, I illuminate the ways in which sexual violence is framed and addressed from a socio-legal perspective. My findings suggest that the high reported rate of sexual violence in Sweden is not necessarily a paradox, but rather a reflection of a commitment to gender equality: Swedish state institutions incentivize reporting of sexual violence, encouraging victim-survivors to disclose and seek help. In this dissertation, I look to three state institutions to illuminate how the Swedish state incentivizes reporting. First, I write about the political sphere, where a 2018 legal reform was hotly contested but ended with a “feminist victory.” Second, I examine the criminal justice system, where victim-centered policies and practices have been implemented to improve the experience of victim-survivors who report. Finally, I turn to the welfare state, including the healthcare system and the education system, where government-funded programs address sexual violence treatment and prevention. Through a transformation of these state institutions, Sweden provides accessible services and possibilities for justice. Thus, I argue that a high reported rate of sexual violence does not necessarily reflect the high occurrence of rape and sexual assault, but in the case of Sweden, may reflect the successful work of feminist activism and a state commitment to gender equality through institutionalized support for disclosure and reporting.Sociolog