Violence and the crime victim

In the 1960s, the typical prisoner served time for theft as the main crime. In the 2020s, this represents only a few per cent, while sentences for violent and sexual crimes account for four out of ten cases. In this development, violence against women plays a central role. During this period, there is also an increasing reference to the crime victim, usually a woman or a child, emerging as a category in the political debate. A similar development has been observed in other countries. However, a specific explanation may be that politicians and parties in Sweden define themselves as feminists. In the debate on gender equality, men’s violence against women, including sexual violence, becomes a central theme.