"Utan kvinnor inget folkstyre". En historisk exposé över kampen för ökad kvinnorepresentation i Sverige

Abstract

Sweden is often recognized globally as a role model regarding gender equality, and especially when it comes to women’s political representation. However, for a long time male politicians effectively kept women out and Swedish women found it difficult to enter into politics. The purpose of this article is to give a historical overview of the Swedish women´s movement and its struggle for increased political representation and present and discuss initiatives taken by Swedish women in different times, after the suffrage struggle (1921) and before the female representation increased considerably (in the 1970s). The article takes as point of departure the theoretical framework developed by Maud Eduards (2002) about women as political actors and about the meaning and consequences of women organizing themselves – especially when and if they organize themselves separately (from men). In the article I investigate questions like: When and how did Swedish women organize themselves and struggle for an increased number of women in politics? Which women did collaborate and under what circumstances and premises? How did they relate to and navigate in a party system that during this period was primarily dominated by men, men’s interests and class conflicts? The article shows that the women’s struggle over political positions and political influence in Sweden has been long and I argue, in reference to Maud Eduards, that it is of great interest how women organize themselves, with or without men, in a small or large number, direct and individually or indirect through other organisations and how they relate and respond and to the party system.The article maps important parts of the Swedish women’s movement and highlights three female and political initiatives: Föreningen Kvinnolistan (Woman’s List) in the 1920s, Kommittén för ökad kvinnorepresentation (The Committee for equal representation) in the 1930-40s and Samarbetskommittén för ökad kvinnorepresentation (The Committee for equal representation) in the end of 1960s.