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A forgotten path to the sea : A qualitative study of the invisibility of the shipping industry in society
No full textSjöfarten spelar en central roll i Sveriges ekonomi, samtidigt som branschen präglas av en svag och otydlig bild i samhället. I Sverige bedöms omkring 2200 personer behöva rekryteras inom sjöfarten fram till år 2027, samtidigt som antalet sökande till sjöfartsutbildningarna vid Linnéuniversitetet och Chalmers tekniska högskola har minskat under de senaste åren. Flera informationsinsatser har genomförts, med mål att sprida kunskap om branschen samt stärka framtida kompetensförsörjning. Syftet med studien är att belysa kunskapsläget om sjöfartsbranschen hos ungdomar i Sverige. Studien tillämpar en kvalitativ metod i form av fokuserade gruppintervjuer av semistrukturerad karaktär där två fokusgrupper genomfördes med elever från två gymnasieskolor i södra Sverige, en kustnära och en inlandsskola. Resultatet visar att deltagarna generellt har låg kunskap om sjöfartsbranschen och dess utbildningar. Informationen från grundskolor, gymnasieskolor och studie- och yrkesvägledare upplevs som begränsad och når inte ut i tillräcklig utsträckning. Dessutom visar resultatet att ungdomars föreställningar om yrken till sjöss till stor del formas av populärkultur, stereotyper och brist på identifierbara förebilder. Trots geografisk närhet till havet överförs inte erfarenheter av båtliv eller relation till havet, till intresse eller kunskap om sjöfartsyrken. Maritime transport plays a central role in Sweden’s economy, yet the sector is characterised by a weak and unclear public image. In Sweden, approximately 2200 people need to be recruited in the maritime sector by 2027, while the number of applicants to maritime education programmes at Linnaeus University and Chalmers University of Technology has declined in recent years. Several information initiatives have been implemented to enhance sector knowledge and strengthen the future skills supply. The aim of the study is to examine the level of knowledge regarding the maritime sector among young people in Sweden. The study uses a qualitative approach with semistructured focus group interviews, two focus groups were conducted with students from two upper secondary schools in southern Sweden, one coastal and one inland. The results show that participants generally have low levels of knowledge regarding the maritime sector and its educational pathways. Information from compulsory schools, upper secondary schools, and study and career counsellors is perceived as limited and insufficiently disseminated. In addition, the findings indicate that young people’s perceptions of maritime occupations are largely shaped by popular culture, stereotypes, and a lack of identifiable role models. Despite geographical proximity to the sea, experiences of boating or a relationship to the sea do not translate into interest in or knowledge about maritime careers.
Education in place : Rural schools between local realities and Global horizons
No full textThe aim of this article is to synthesise and advance current knowledge on the conditions and challenges of rural education in contemporary Sweden, with particular attention to how processes of digitalisation and globalisation shape educational practices and possibilities in rural communities. Drawing on qualitative data material, the study shows how place functions as an active force shaping educational opportunities: organisational closeness creates cohesion but also dependence, social embeddedness provides continuity yet limits aspirations, and geographical distance both constrains and stimulates innovation. Digitalisation appears as a pragmatic tool, a generational condition, and a structural response to isolation, offering new opportunities but also reinforcing inequalities when infrastructures fail. Culture is revealed as contested, oscillating between municipal strategies of high culture and families’ everyday practices that shape children’s belonging and place-based forms of belonging and recognition (Massey, 1994, 2017). Structural inequalities – of resources, geography, and technology – emerge as decisive conditions rather than temporary barriers. Using Massey’s relational notion of place, including her concepts of power-geometry and spatial divisions of labour (Massey, 1994), the study concludes that rural schools must be understood as situated arenas where local and global processes intersect
En ny säkerhetspolitik : En idéanalys av utrikespolitiken och det civila försvarets förändrade roll i skuggan av kriget i Ukraina
No full textThis thesis examines how Sweden’s security policy and the role of its civil defense have changed following the country’s accession to NATO, with the war in Ukraine serving as a central catalyst for a reorientation of national priorities. Using an idea‑analysis framework grounded in realism, liberalism, and constructivism, the study analyses the 2025 Foreign Policy Declaration as a key primary source for understanding the Swedish government’s threat assessments, strategic outlook, and views on international cooperation. The findings show that the war in Ukraine has reinforced a predominantly realist worldview in which military strength, deterrence, and alliance‑building are essential for national survival. At the same time, liberal ideas are visible in the emphasis on the EU and NATO as institutional platforms for cooperation, sanctions, defense of industrial coordination, and civil preparedness. To analyze changes in the role of civil defense, the study draws on material from the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF), whose reports highlight evolving expectations on civil society actors in crisis preparedness and cross‑sectoral collaboration. Overall, the study demonstrates that Sweden’s NATO membership and the ongoing war in Ukraine have contributed to a significant reconfiguration of both security policy and civil defense, assigning new responsibilities to state institutions and civil society in an increasingly uncertain strategic environment.
Feminism i KFS-agendan : En diskursanalys av årsrapporter från FN:s agenda för kvinnor, fred och säkerhet utifrån feministisk säkerhetsteori.
No full textThis thesis examines the women, peace and security agenda from a feminist security perspective and analyses how problems, solutions and subjects related to gender equality are framed by the UN and how these representations have evolved over time. A qualitative discourse analysis is applied to annual reports for the agenda from 2002, 2009, 2017 and 2025 to study how feminist security theory are reflected in two analytical categories; gender-based violence and womens low representation and participation in peace processes. Gender-based violence is represented as an institutional security problem, and in later reports, as a structural, gendered power relations issue. Solutions include legal, political and institutional measures while later reports also adress harmful gender norms. Women are represented as vulnerable victims with limited agency, although structural inequalities are increasingly emphasised. Women’s low representation and participation is framed as institutional and structural problems shaped by norms and unequal power relations, while solutions include capacity-buildning, support and accountability and later also adressing gender norms. As subjects, women are framed as capable, important actors who remain structurally marginalised. Over time, the representations generally reflect increasing feminist security perspectives
Between the lines and behind the pictures: A multimodal analysis of age coding in digital job advertisements : How linguistic, tonal and visual cues can interact to potentially exclude older job seekers
No full textÅldersdiskriminering utgör ett växande samhällsproblem med betydande konsekvenser för både individer och organisationer. Denna studie undersöker hur företags utformning av platsannonser kan bidra till exkludering av äldre arbetssökande. Särskilt fokus riktas mot hur multimodala signaler, bestående av språk, ton och visuella element, i dessa, påverkar upplevelsen av inkludering och exkludering. Studien analyserar hur annonsens innehåll fungerar som marknadsföring och hur signalerna i annonserna bidrar till en upplevelse kring tillhörighet eller exkludering. Vidare diskuteras hur specifika designelement som färg, typografi och läsbarhet, utöver bildval kan bidra till den totala upplevelsen hos arbetssökande. Syftet är att öka förståelsen för hur rekryteringskommunikation fungerar som en form av marknadsföring som både kan förstärka och motverka åldersdiskriminering. Genom att systematiskt identifiera vilka språkliga, tonmässiga och visuella faktorer som påverkar upplevelsen av exkludering och inkludering kan studien bidra till utvecklingen av mer rättvisa och inkluderande platsannonser. Resultaten förväntas därmed ge insikter som stärker organisationers arbete med mångfald, kompetensförsörjning och social hållbarhet
Digital Influence : Social Media’s Impact on Gen Z Travel Intentions
No full textThis research paper set out to examine how social media influences the travel behaviour of Gen Z tourists. The role of digital platforms in tourism planning is growing, which is why this study will address the following research question: In what ways does social media influence Gen Z tourists’ travel intentions and/or behaviours? To answer this question, a qualitative abductive research design was used. Twelve structured interviews were conducted with European Gen Z respondents, focusing on social media usage, trust, and travel-related decision-making. The findings showed that social media influences travel behaviour in multiple ways. It influences how destinations are perceived through visual content. Additionally, social media platforms play a big role in how Gen Z tourists evaluate and verify the authenticity of the information brought forward in user-generated content and influencer marketing. Lastly, it activates both push- and pull-motivations. The study concludes that Gen Z actively engages with social media content. It contributes to the formation of perception, and can provide motivational triggers that help the conversion of interest into actual behaviour. The findings contribute to existing tourism literature by showing exactly how online credibility and the way we see digital content can influence modern-day travel choices. Future studies should now look into how different apps affect that process, how AI-generated content is changing tourism, and how these digital influences may change over time
Determinants of Seniors’ Wellness Tourism Motivation: A Quantitative Study in Kalmar
No full textWellness tourism has gained increasing importance in relation to population ageing and the growing focus on health, well-being, and active aging. As older adults represent a rapidly expanding segment within tourism markets, there is a need to better understand the factors that motivate seniors to engage in wellness-oriented travel. The purpose of this study is to examine which motivational factors related to health and social well-being influence seniors in Kalmar to participate in wellness tourism, with particular attention to the role of health status, mobility, and economic situation. The study applies a quantitative research approach using a structured paper-based questionnaire distributed to seniors aged 60 and above in the Kalmar region, Sweden. A total of 55 valid responses were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability testing, and Pearson correlation analysis. Motivational dimensions related to health, social interaction, recovery, and engagement in wellness tourism were examined in relation to respondents’ perceived health status, mobility, and economic ability. The findings show that seniors’ motivation for wellness tourism is primarily driven by health-related, social, and recovery-oriented factors. Health status is positively associated with all major motivational dimensions, indicating that seniors who perceive themselves as healthier are more motivated to engage in wellness travel. Social motivation emerged as the strongest motivational factor, highlighting the importance of social interaction and emotional well-being. Economic ability was found to influence health and recovery motivation, while mobility showed no significant relationship with motivational factors. Overall, wellness tourism is perceived by seniors as a purposeful activity linked to long-term well-being. This study contributes to the understanding of senior wellness tourism by providing empirical insights from a Northern European context. The findings offer implications for tourism research and for the development of accessible, ethical, and sustainable wellness tourism strategies that support active and healthy aging
Associations between attitudes accepting of wife abuse and emotional abuse, forced heavy work, and food deprivation during pregnancy in Nepal : a cross-sectional study
No full textBackground Social norms and gendered power relationships contribute to the acceptability of 'wife abuse' - a common form of domestic violence globally. Objectives To estimate the prevalence and overlap of emotional abuse, forced heavy work, and food deprivation during pregnancy and examine their association with women's attitudes accepting of wife abuse in Nepal. Methods Baseline data were used from a randomized controlled trial involving pregnant women aged 18 and older attending routine antenatal care at two public hospitals in Nepal between January 2023 and March 2025. Participants completed a color-coded audio computer assisted self-interview. Attitudes toward wife abuse were assessed using 16 items drawn from three existing instruments. Exploratory factor analysis identified three distinct attitudinal factors. The dependent variable was a composite indicator of emotional abuse, forced heavy work, or food deprivation (coded as present if any were reported). Associations between the three attitudinal factors and composite outcome were analyzed using multiple logistic regression, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic variables. Results Emotional abuse, forced heavy work, or food deprivation was reported by 6.7% of participants. Acceptance of wife abuse for domestic shortcomings (Factor 1) was significantly associated with higher odds of experiencing abuse (aOR [1.75 (1.23-2.50)]. Conclusions Pregnant women who endorsed attitudes accepting wife abuse - particularly for perceived domestic shortcomings - had higher odds of experiencing emotional abuse, forced heavy work, or food deprivation. These findings highlight importance of addressing harmful gender norms within households and ensuring antenatal care settings include safe opportunities to identify and support women at risk
I krisens hetta – ideologi eller struktur? : En jämförelse av riksdagspartiers idéer om finanspolitiken vid tre finanskriser
No full textSince the 1990s, Swedish fiscal policy has become institutionalized, whileseveral financial crises have occurred, putting its ability to act to the test.Scholar Hibbs argues that the ideology and voter base of political partiesgovern fiscal policy, while scholar Cusack believes that ideology has becomeless important as party political conflicts in fiscal policy are structurallylimited by international/national restrictions. The research problem istherefore to examine the extent to which the Left Party, Social Democrats,Center Party, Liberals, Moderates, and Christian Democrats' ideas aboutfiscal policy during the financial crises in Sweden 1990–94, 2007–10, andthe Covid-19 pandemic in 2020–21 have been characterized by ideologicallydriven policy or structurally limited policy. This will be studied through ananalysis of political ideas during the Swedish Parliament’s budget debatesduring the crises. The results showed that the Left Party usually had anideologically driven policy during all crises, while the other parties variedmore, but more often had structurally limited policy during the later crises.The conclusions are that parties in government have more structurally limitedpolicies today and find it tougher to express their ideology due tointernational/national constraints