I regnbågens skugga
En analys av kommuners diskurser kring våld inom hbt-relationer
Intimate partner violence (IPV)LGBTDiscourseHeteronormativityGender dichotomyVåld i nära relationerHbt-personerDiskursHeteronormativitetGenusdikotomi
The purpose of this study is to investigate how the Swedish municipal welfare system, in their capacity as discourse makers, construct Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in the relationships of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. A discourse analysis of their official plans of action regarding IPV and the information directed towards their citizens through their webpages showed that the discourse surrounding IPV revealed a gender dichotomy, where the victim was mainly constructed as being female and the perpetrator as male. As a consequence of this, gay and bisexual men were rendered invisible from the discourse surrounding victims of IPV, although they could be included in the construction of perpetrators of it. Lesbian and bisexual women were often included in the understanding of victims of IPV, but in the discourse surrounding perpetrators of it they were made invisible. The discourse about IPV also excluded the experiences and vulnerability of people who identify as being transgendered. Additionally, the discourse surrounding IPV was characterized by heteronormative assumptions regarding the relationships in which violence is possible. The help defined in the documents included in this study also showed a gender dichotomy in the construction of help directed towards victims and perpetrators of IPV. The relationship between them was also once more understood through heteronormative assumptions.