Gärningskvinnan
en kvalitativ studie om frivårdsinspektörers syn på den kvinnliga brottslingen
Female offendersFemale clientsProbation inspectorsConstructionsKvinnliga förövareKvinnliga klienterFrivårdsinspektörerKonstruktioner
How do probation inspectors describe their female clients and female offenders? Are there any discrepancies in treatment between male and female clients? In what way is the social interaction between female clients and inspectors constructed and described? These are the issues we have explored in this study. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with a total of nine probation inspectors; six women and three men, were used in order to examine the probation inspectors? constructions of clients and the construction of interaction between them. By applying Foucault?s theory of power relations, Hirdman?s gender theory and Olsson?s theory of preconceptions when analyzing the results five themes were identified; descriptions of the work of the female client, descriptions of the interaction with the female client, descriptions of the female offender, descriptions of backgrounds why women commit crimes and descriptions of society's view on the female offender. The results of this study show that probation inspectors victimize the female offenders by referring to the impact of external circumstances. The interaction is described to be more difficult when working with female clients than with male clients; which is explained by the deeper and more complex problems of female clients. The interviews also indicate that female offenders in some ways are treated differently than male offenders by their probation inspectors. Conclusively we argue that the female offenders in a higher degree than male offenders violates to the social norms of how to act and behave.