| Summary: | The purpose of this study is to describe how, and if, discourses about self-harm in young people has been changed from the late 90-s until today. We chose to do this by studying films where the content of self-harm is a big factor. The study is built on a narrative research, we did however analyze it as a discourse method. The issues we have concentrated on are: Is there a significant quality that describes an individual who cut themselves? How can this phenomenon be seen from a gender point of view? Is there a specific group of people who is labeled as a person who cut themselves from the public? The result from this study show us that self-injury, from symptoms of a (bad) mental state, is a strong discourse where the views from the society lets it become more acceptable. However, there are other reasons for self-harm that is developed by the social difficulties, which is illustrated in these films. Norms and beliefs around what is male or female have not been changed from the beginning of the time period we have studied until today. Self-mutilation is still seen as a typical female thing – a woman problem. The persons who are pointed out as cutting themselves are typical white, young, dramatic girls. These girls also exhibit depth - and shame for the problem and its environment.
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