None of Us Are Free But Some of Us Are Brave
Authors
Dahl, Sofie Melanie Gravengaard ; Andersen, Camilla Agerbo
Term
4. term
Publication year
2019
Abstract
This thesis investigates Amnesty International Denmark’s current activism strategy and the pronounced gender imbalance in Amnesty Youth, with a focus on the underrepresentation of boys. The study draws on elite interviews with an activism organiser and a former activism employee, alongside 162 survey responses from upper secondary school students. It combines social identity theory, gender schema theory, and theories of empowerment, activism, and motivation to frame analyses of activism structures, young people’s understandings of gender and human rights, their knowledge, participation forms, motivation orientations, and insights from respondents who diverge markedly from the majority, including two who identify as gender nonconforming. Findings show a clear gender disparity in youth activism, widespread adherence to traditional notions of masculinity and femininity, and gaps in basic and historical human rights knowledge. Based on this, the thesis proposes practical initiatives: tightly structured “activism kits,” ongoing reflection with activists, stronger integration of human rights’ historical context in social media, decentralisation of activism, and an advertisement video for Amnesty Youth. An international comparison with Norway indicates similar patterns. Overall, the thesis recommends broadening Amnesty International Denmark’s strategy beyond engagement to also empower critical reflection and shape a more relatable human rights narrative, particularly for young men.
Dette speciale undersøger Amnesty International Danmarks nuværende aktivismestrategi og den markante kønsskævhed i Amnesty Youth, med særlig fokus på drenges underrepræsentation. Undersøgelsen bygger på eliteinterviews med en aktivismeorganisator og en tidligere aktivismemedarbejder samt 162 spørgeskemasvar fra elever på de gymnasiale uddannelser. Teoretisk kombineres social identitetsteori, kønsskemateori, empowerment-, aktivisme- og motivationsteori for at strukturere analysen af aktivismestrukturer, unges forståelser af køn og menneskerettigheder, deres viden, deltagelsesformer og motivationsorienteringer, samt perspektiver fra respondenter, der skiller sig markant ud, herunder to, der identificerer sig som kønsnonkonforme. Resultaterne viser en tydelig kønsskævhed i ungdomsaktivismen, at mange unge fastholder traditionelle forestillinger om maskulinitet og femininitet, og at grundlæggende historisk viden om menneskerettigheder ofte mangler. På den baggrund foreslår specialet konkrete tiltag: mere strukturerede “aktivismekits”, løbende refleksion med aktivister, stærkere inddragelse af menneskerettighedernes historiske kontekst i sociale medier, decentralisering af aktivismen og en reklamevideo for Amnesty Youth. En sammenligning med den norske kontekst peger på lignende mønstre. Samlet anbefales det, at Amnesty International Danmark udvider sin strategi fra blot at engagere unge til også at styrke deres kritiske refleksion og forme en mere relaterbar fortælling, især for unge mænd.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
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