Sexualpolitikens genus i Frankrike och Sverige

Abstract

This comparative study, inspired by Marc Bloch, deals with the abortion and contraception politics of Sweden and France during the first half of the XXth century from a gender perspective At a discursive level the resemblance between the two countries is clear: this is the main result of this study. At this time many western countries, restricted the diffusion of contraceptives in some way and passed more efficient and abortion legislation thus increasing surveillance. The dominant view in Sweden and France, although the explicit motives for these policies were different in the two countries, was that sexuality was man's business and that it was men who were to be protected from contraception "propaganda" or to be led on the straight path to marriage and fatherhood. Nature intended women to be primarily mothers and they were therefore not seen as sexually active but instead in need of close protection, i.e. a repressive abortion law, to help them to fulfil they nature. This discourse dominated the political debates and was taken up by women politicians and women's organisations as well. The exception was the small circle of neo-malthusians and supporters of birth control. The church seems to have played very little role in these debates at this time in both Sweden and France. The discourse with respect to gender is then the same in Sweden and France, but there are some other differences that need explaining. A comparison highlights the particularities of the two countries. One of the differences is the important role played by eugenics in Sweden. The fascination exercised by medical science on politicians seems to have been particularly strong on the left wing where it was seen as a potential ally and as providing legitimisation in the struggle for a progressive social policy. Scientific thought in Sweden also seern to have been invaded by eugenics. It was very different in France where the scientists resisted eugenic ideas and stayed attached to an older belief that milieu was more important than inheritance. This belief coincided with that of the rather socially progressive and democratic French political regime of the time who hoped that upbringing and education would realise the famous dream of Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.