University of Gothenburg
University of Gothenburg
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Marita Flisbäck

SENIOR LECTURER

Department of Sociology and Work
Science
Telephone
+46 31-786 48 99
Mail
marita.flisback@socav.gu.se
Visiting address
Skanstorget 18
41122 Göteborg
Room number
F107
Postal address
Box 720
40530 Göteborg

About Marita Flisbäck

Presentation MARITA FLISBÄCK is associate professor in Sociology. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from University of Gothenburg. In her dissertation: “Att lära sig konstens regler. En sociologisk studie av osäkra framtidsinvesteringar” [‘Learning the rules of art: a sociological study of uncertain future investments’], she examines how artistic careers and life choices are related to constructions of social class and gender.

Specialist Fields A major part of Flisbäck’s research has focused on occupations, particularly artistic careers, in relation to life choices and family life, questions of identity and meaning-making processes. Flisbäck is interested in strategies to manage uncertainty in critical life situations and how people with low status handle lack of recognition. She has often analysed these themes from the perspectives of social class and gender. In recent years, however, her analyses have moved towards an existential sociology perspective, as seen in her book: “När livet går bort, när livet kommer till. Existenssociologiska betraktelser av konstnärligt arbete, familjebildning och anhörigförlust” [‘When life passes away, when life arises: Contemplations of artistic work, family formation and losses of relatives from an existential sociology perspective’, 2014].

Current research projects Currently, Flisbäck is working in the research project "Activation Strategies in Swedish Welfare Policy 1990-2015", led by Associate Professor Mattias Bengtsson (funded by the Swedish Research Council). The project studies activation strategies in labor market policies and social insurance systems, and provides a sociological understanding of the transformation of the Swedish welfare state between 1990 and 2015. In the research project: ‘Towards a new everyday: Individuals' meaning making at the entry of retirement from a social inequality perspective’, Flisbäck investigated different strategies to manage the transition from employment into retirement. The research project was funded by the The Kamprad Family Foundation and carried out together with Mattias Bengtsson, and Anna Lund. In 2016 Flisbäck studied the roll of existential and cultural meaning making in the formation of cultural entrepreneurship. The project “After Hultsfred: Cultural entrepreneurs in the track of the festival”, is led by Professor Mats Trondman (see further: http://efterhultsfred.se), and funded by The Kamprad Family Foundation. Flisbäck has directed the project “Artistic Careers and Family Life: A Sequential Study of Uncertain Work Strategies” (funded by the Swedish Research Council). In 2009 and 2010, Flisbäck acted as investigator of the Swedish Arts Grants Committee and examined work and income conditions of artistic professionals. See for example: https://www.konstnarsnamnden.se/Sve/Filer/PDF-Filer/KN_Jamstalldhet_Inlaga_engelska.pdf

Teaching and tutoring Feminist sociology and gender theory, class analysis and occupational sociology. Life choices, lifestyle, career and family.

Miscellaneous Flisbäck received the STINT scholarship “Excellence in teaching” and hence spent the fall semester 2011 at Smith College in Massachusetts as a visiting scholar/lecturer.

Together with Anna Lund, Flisbäck coordinated in 2008-2015 “The Swedish Network for promotion of working lives research in the art- and culture sector” (funded by the Swedish Council for health, working life and welfare, FORTE).