Kari Stefansen

Kari Stefansen is a Research Professor in the Youth Research department at OsloMet – Storbyuniversitetet, affiliated with the Centre for Welfare and Labour Research. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Oslo (2011), focusing on parenthood as a classed phenomenon. Her research spans parenthood, sexual violence, domestic violence, and youth culture, with a strong emphasis on institutional mechanisms and policy implementation.

Key projects include the KnowMo project on parenting, studies on masculinity and youth inequality, and the Barnahus Model evaluation. She leads the Digital Sexual Violence and Sexual Culture in Youth projects, examining digital risks and sexual health. Ongoing work includes FRAGMEN (masculinity studies) and LIFECHANCES (inequality processes).

Her publications explore institutional barriers in Barnahus, sexual assault narratives, and youth sport dynamics. She co-authored Seksuell vold: En samfunnsvitenskapelig innføring (2018) and edited Justice and Recovery for Victimised Children (2024). Projects like UngVold 2023 provide national data on youth violence trends.

Stefansen’s work bridges criminology, sociology, and policy, addressing societal challenges through empirical research. She collaborates with CURE Oslo and NOVA’s Domestic Violence Program, contributing to evidence-based interventions and legal reforms.