Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most severe and persistent human rights violations affecting women worldwide, with an estimated one in three women experiencing some form of violence in their lifetime. My project examined the systemic, cultural, and political structures that allow such violence to persist, specifically within the Swedish context. Of particular interest was the "Nordic Paradox": despite ranking as the most gender-equal country in the European Union, Sweden reports disproportionately high rates of violence against women. This tension surfaced repeatedly throughout my research and became a central thread of the project.
During the fellowship period, I lived in Sweden and conducted in-person research on gender-based violence and femicide. Through interviews with experts in gender studies, social work, public health, and sociology, I gained insight into how Sweden addresses gender-based violence and how Swedish society is socialized to recognize and respond to these issues. These interviews were complemented by informal discussions, field observations, and an extensive literature review. For eight weeks, I studied how Sweden’s response to GBV is influenced by its unique cultural, social, and geographic position in a way that I couldn’t have gained outside of field research.
The fellowship strengthened my interviewing and ethnographic research skills, deepened my knowledge of Swedish language and culture, and allowed me to build lasting connections with professors and experts in the region. With this, I feel confident with the groundwork to successfully complete my SYE this year. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to pursue a topic I care so much about, and I look forward to carrying this research forward.