2 Chapter 2 Sexual Abuse of Minors in Sweden

According to a GreenNet article, “Sweden has the highest incidence of reported rapes in Europe but the lowest conviction rate” (“Sweden Has Worst Rape..”, 2016). Sexual abuse against women continues to worsen in Sweden, despite the good reputation for gender equality. The main reason for this is corruption and laws that are not strict enough. Sexual abuse of minors is a major current issue in Sweden which is seen in the Swedish novel Sun Storm with Rebecca’s past with Thomas as well as in Swedish current events, particularly at music festivals.

Asa Larsson’s novel Sun Storm is based in Sweden and was the winner of “Sweden’s Best First Crime Novel Award”. One reason for the success of Larsson’s novel is the accuracy of the violence. Rebecka Martinsson returns to Kiruna, a town she had left behind because of darkness that she faced. Later in the novel, it is discovered that part of the darkness Rebecka faced was an inappropriate relationship with a priest. Pages 157-159 of Sun Storm include the events that left a lasting negative impression on Rebecka, beginning in her young adult years. Thomas Soderberg was a priest and as Rebecka was confessing her sins to Thomas and taking comfort in him, they became close. They were sexually intimate.

This cannot technically be considered rape under Swedish laws because of the way that Rebecka explained her desires and was not against what took place. However, the way that Thomas treated Rebecka afterward is what should be focused on. “‘I’m sorry,’ she says in a small voice. ‘I didn’t mean to do that.’ ‘Please go,’ he says roughly. ‘Just go.’ She runs all the way home to the flat she shares with Sanna” (Larsson, p.159). Thomas made Rebecka feel guilty for what occurred and as if she should take the blame. He made her feel small and sinful, when in reality, he had as much if not more of a part in what took place. This interaction between Rebecka and Thomas is an example of the gender norms that are still very present in Sweden, which lead to the sexual abuse culture. Another rape reference in Sun Storm is when Rebecka discusses her suspicions that Sanna’s daughters may have been sexually abused by Sanna’s brother or father. Rebecka planned to report the abuse to Child Protective Services because of the way that Sanna had talked about her odd relationship with her father.  Rebecka remembered her conversation with Sanna saying, “She said Viktor had interfered with her girls …..I was such a fool. I asked her not to go to the police or the authorities. She’d spoken to Patrik Mattsson. I rang him and said Sanna had made a mistake. Threatened to throw him out of the church if he spread the rumor around” (Larsson, 287). When Sanna went to Thomas and told him what had happened, he tried to confront Viktor but was threatened. The way that the sexual abuse of minors was covered up is an example of the inequality of power in the book and in Sweden in general.

Swedish music festivals are a popular location for teens to let their guard down and enjoy the music of their favorite artists. However, due to Sweden’s continuing issues with sexual abuse, festival goers are forced to worry about their safety. Within a three-day music festival, there were 32 reports of attacks by boys or young men (Huuhtanen). When the reports of rapes at the various music festivals are added up, the numbers are alarming, causing people to ask why.

One factor is the amount of foreign born convicted attackers in Sweden. Over the past 5 years, 58% of men convicted in Sweden of rape were born abroad” (“Sweden Rape”). Immigrants are under a bad light in Sweden due to these actions. Because of this, race relations are being damaged. Not all foreigners should be given a ‘rapist’ label, but because of the actions of many foreigners, mainly from the middle east, this is what matters have come to.

Although music festivals have had a history of sexual violence in Sweden, there are sadly a high rate of rapes all over the rest of the country as well. The number of rapes in the last 20 years have quadrupled, yet the conviction rates have steadily decreased (“Sweden Has Worst Rape, 2016). There are many reasons for these statistics. One of which being that there are “deeply rooted patriarchal gender norms of Swedish family life and sexual relationships”. Gender equality is not present in Sweden, as much as some would like to say it is, causing a major societal flaw. Violence against women in Sweden is more prevalent than ever.

Outsiders looking in on Sweden’s extremely high rates of sexual abuse wonder how Sweden differs from other countries and why something is not being done. Government officials such as police men and women are relied on to keep public events safe as well as to respond to reports of sexual abuse or rape. Police are then expected to take action and take convicted attackers into custody. The issue is that not all Swedish police are doing their job. At music festivals, for example, young adults and teens should feel safe knowing that police are present. They should feel as if nothing can harm them. However, police have not had this reputation and have actually failed to inform the public of the widespread sexual assaults against teenage girls. Swedish police faced allegations for these cover-ups. Part of the reason for this is what was previously mentioned, that officials are afraid of worsening ethnic tensions and relationships by convicting foreign criminals. They have instead turned their backs on Swedish youth in need of help and continue to show rapists that what they are doing is ok. With no consequences or repercussions, rapists continue to take these violent measures, and reported rapes continue to climb.

As there are good cops and bad cops, there are also good priests and bad priests. In Asa Larsson’s novel, Sun Storm, Rebecka has an encounter with a cop who was not necessarily bad, but made a bad decision. Both Rebecka and Thomas acted rashly and did not think things through. Rebecka lived with the guilt of the actions while Thomas blamed her and made her feel as if she had done something wrong. This does not only happen with cops and priests, but many other authority figures. Sexual abuse of minors occurs when someone of more power than a minor sexually takes advantage of them without their consent. The difficult part about sexual abuse in Sweden is that there is little support for individuals to come out and express the trauma they experienced.

The main way that sexual abuse culture can be changed in Sweden is through law enforcement. Sexual abusers themselves are to blame for their actions, but law enforcement must crack down on laws and protect those who currently have no protection. According to The Local, in 2018, “Sweden introduced a law change that meant sex without explicit consent was considered as rape, including when the victim did not actively say ‘no’” (Edwards, 2019). With this law being introduced, Sweden is one step closer to improving this terrible issue of sexual abuse of minors. It is now up to individuals making correct decisions such as not abusing their power or turning their back on abuse.

Sexual abuse of minors is a topic seen in the Swedish novel Sun Storm with Rebecca’s past with Thomas as well as in Swedish current events. Blame must initially be placed on the attackers themselves. However, more can be done legally by enforcing the law and not turning a blind eye. A law making rape illegal was officially introduced in 2018 in hopes to lesson sexual abuse laws in Sweden.

References

Edwards, C. (2019, July 12). ‘Negligent rape’: Has Sweden’s sexual consent law led to change? Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.se/20190712/negligent-rape-has-swedens-sexual-consent-law-led-to-change (Links to an external site.).

Sweden has worst rape conviction record in Europe. (2016, April 29). Retrieved from https://www.greennet.org.uk/network/news/sweden-has-worst-rape-conviction-record-europe (Links to an external site.).

Huuhtanen, Matti. “Dozens of Reports of Assaults, rapes at Swedish festivals.” The Associated Press, July 5 2019. https://apnews.com/173ddc3ef874403a90c1eb5431d53d95/Dozens-of-reports-of-assaults,-rapes-at-Swedish-festivals (Links to an external site.)

“Sweden rape: Most convicted attackers foreign-born, says TV.” The BBC, August 22, 2018. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45269764 (Links to an external site.)

Larsson Åsa, & Delargy, M. (2007). Sun Storm. New York: Delacorte Press.