Det bor också kvinnor i det europeiska huset

Abstract

This article is based on Den möderne tid volume 5 in Det europceiske hus written together with Karin Liitzen. It focus on certain characteristic aspects in women's situation in the western world in the periode 1870 to 1945. The quality of the population became a central factor in modern society: object of population policy and social policy. This made women a key figure in the care of the population and in the reformation of industrial society ancl made gender central in many modern institutions. The western european marriage pattern characterised by high age at marriage and by a big part of a generation never marryingwasunique in the world. This pattern made it possible for young people to save money in their youth: money intended for their future marriage. This saving of money on a mass scale was important for the european "take off' into modern economic growth. This marriage pattern was also very important for women, who did not have to get married at young age. They had to earn their own living, and in order to get work they often had to move to the towns, which meant independency of their family. But it also meant that they became part of the modern city. But it is important to be aware of the differences between married and unmarried women. The unmarried were emancipated and received the same opportunity as men, but married women had lo be different from men in every direction. But even if their role was supposed to be traditionel, demografic changes (concerning the marriage pattern, fertility and death) revolutionized the life-cycles of women. This development also had political importance.