Girls in criminal gangs: participation, vulnerability and violence

Research problem and specific questionsThe purpose of this project is to contribute with in-depth knowledge of girls´ lives and participation in criminal gangs.

The main interest lies in how the way into the gang, the participation in the gang and, if they left, the way out of the gang is described, but the questions also concern what experiences of vulnerability, participation, and use of violence girls in gangs have and if gender and other intersectional categorisations are given importance.Data and method The project takes its theoretical starting point in narrative research, and it is based on two case-studies.

The first case-study explores girls´ experiences of being part of a criminal gang by analysing their life stories.

In the second case-study, the focus shifts towards exploring professionals´ narratives about their experiences of meeting and working with this group.Plan for project realisationThe project runs over three years, and all members of the research group will be involved in the two case-studies and assist with their specific competence in data collection and analysis.

During the first two years, the focus is on planning, recruitment, and data collection for the two case-studies.

As the interviews in case-studies 1 and 2 are conducted, the material will be transcribed, and the analysis work will begin.

The last year will be devoted to continued processing and analysis of the material and the writing of the results.RelevanceSince there is currently a lack of research on girls in criminal gangs within a Swedish context, this project intends to contribute valuable knowledge to both the scientific field and the practical social and preventive work, partly by studying an area that has mainly focused on boys, and partly by studying a group that has recently received attention within a Swedish context.

The knowledge generated will thus increase the conditions for how social actors, both within civil society and welfare state organisations, can work to improve the support for these girls and thus respond to the challenges of the welfare system.