Spelfilmernas framställningar av män och kvinnor med psykisk ohälsa och dess relevans till socialt arbete

Sammanfattning: Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how feature films and mass media portray women and men in the late 1970s and 1990s and compare how they were represented in massmedia the period after the movie launches and what impact these portrayals can have on society. The study specifically wanted to develop an understanding of any similarities in a psychosocial perspective and the differences between the men and women in a psychosocial and through a gender perspective. Method: The thesis method consisted of a multi-stand study which is when two data collection methods are combined, these were following qualitative content analysis and scoping studies. This combination was necessary to be able to answer selected research questions. Results: The answers to the following research questions of this study is that there were some similarities and differences between the genders in the selected movies. The research question which the issue that explored if the mass medias portrayals of men and women with mental illness remained or if these have changed after the film launches revealed that some identified themes remain while others are new. This can be explained by the retention of some structures that stigmatize the person with mental illness and is considered deviating in relation to the identified characteristics in The media portrayals. Although another result in this study was that no specific research was found regarding gender differences between men and women in feature film productions so the gender perspective was excluded in this issue. Conclusion: Specific theoretical perspectives can contribute to different understandings of how women and men with mental illness are portrayed which can contribute to more awareness of the consequences of these portrayals. Portrayals of men and women with mental illness in massmedia can have significant impact in the individuals life in general because of stigmatization which can cause difficulties in its recovery process but also social vulnerable in the meaning of unemployment, loss of education and relation problems.  Keywords: movie portrayals, mental illness, gender differences, psychosocial perspective, gender perspective, massmedia, social work, public attitudes, stigma