Fucking foreigners: Powerlessness, marginalization and other harms of hate crimes

• Main Author: Eyþórsdóttir, Eyrún
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Icelandic
• Published: Félagsfræðingafélag Íslands 2023
• Subjects: Hatursglæpir; þolendur; skaði; Hate crimes; victimization; harm; Iceland
• Online Access: https://ojs.hi.is/index.php/tf/article/view/3907

Hate crimes have become more apparent alongside greater diversity and a more visible struggle for minority rights. Victims of hate crime tend to differ from the majority based on factors such as ethnic origin, skin color, religion, and sexual orientation. Thus, hate crimes can be seen as a product of a more diverse society. Victims of hate crime are generally in a more precarious position than perpetrators, supporting the argument that hate crimes inflict more harm than similar offenses lacking prejudicial intent. The research question this article seeks to answer centers on understanding the harm experienced by victims of hate crimes and how it shapes their sense of belonging to society. Little is known about hate crimes in Iceland and corresponding harm. This article is based on a qualitative study conducted in Iceland. Twenty-five individuals with a minority background who had experienced a hate crime were interviewed. The key findings underscore the detrimental effects of hate crimes, which manifest in feelings of vulnerability, fear, and mistrust. These experiences resulted in behavioral changes and, in the most extreme cases, complete marginalization. Moreover, several participants reported a sense of not belonging to society, which further compromises their ability to cope with the consequences of hate crimes. Með auknum fjölbreytileika og sýnilegri réttindabaráttu minnihlutahópa hafa hatursglæpir orðið meira áberandi. Þolendur hatursglæpa skera sig jafnan frá þeim sem teljast tilheyra meirihluta samfélagsins, til dæmis vegna uppruna, litarháttar, trúarbragða og kynhneigðar. Því má líta á hatursglæpi sem ákveðinn fylgifisk fjölbreytileika. Þolendur hatursglæpa eru að jafnaði í veikari stöðu en gerendur og vegna þessa er talið að hatursglæpir skaði meira en aðrir sambærilegir glæpir án fordómaásetnings. Rannsóknarspurningin sem þessari grein er ætlað að svara lýtur að því hvers konar skaða þolendur hatursglæpa hérlendis upplifa og hvernig skaðinn mótar upplifun viðkomandi af því að tilheyra samfélaginu. ...