Silent Victims in the Public Eye: Socially Vulnerable EU Citizens’ Exposure to Crime and Its Consequences

This study used thematic analysis to explore 28 socially vulnerable European Union (EU) citizens who support themselves by begging in public spaces in Malmö, Sweden, their exposure to crime, and the consequences of victimization. The analysis revolved around the following themes: daily harassment in...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Wallengren, Simon (Author)
Contributors: Mellgren, Caroline
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2021
In: Journal of interpersonal violence
Year: 2021, Volume: 36, Issue: 3/4, Pages: NP1739-1761NP
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Summary:This study used thematic analysis to explore 28 socially vulnerable European Union (EU) citizens who support themselves by begging in public spaces in Malmö, Sweden, their exposure to crime, and the consequences of victimization. The analysis revolved around the following themes: daily harassment in public spaces, multiple motives for victimization, strategies to combat victimization, and consequences of victimization. The participants described that they lived in a constant state of stress, due to their marginalized life situation and a fear of becoming victimized in public spaces while begging. Study participants claimed that it was not their ethnicity but rather the activity of begging and their overall vulnerable life situation together with a label as “non-Swedish” that motivate offenders to commit attacks against them. The discussion concludes by presenting a number of policy implications.
ISSN:1552-6518
DOI:10.1177/0886260518754872