Vägen tillbaka - en fråga om genus?

Sammanfattning: This study aims to investigate the presence of stigmatization in the reintegration process of former criminals. More specifically, this study examines potential gender differences in former criminals' experiences of a reintegration process. A qualitative approach has been applied, utilizing semi-structured interviews with eight respondents who all have a background characterized by crime and drug abuse. The interviews focused on the respondent’s experiences during their reintegration process based on three main themes; working life, parenthood and social life. The theoretical framework of the study consists primarily of Erving Goffman's (1963) theory of stigma and theory that concerns structural gender roles. Overall, the results reveal that crime and drug abuse do not correlate with normative societal values. Furthermore, some noticeable gender differences can also be found in the respondent´s reintegration process where women tend to endure more societal questioning due to their gender identity. One plausible explanation for this is that societal norms prescribe different expectations for how each gender should perform. Altogether, this signifies that a stigma may appear different based on the person who endures it.