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Challenges and Possibilities for Political Feminism: The Case of Sweden

Challenges and Possibilities for Political Feminism: The Case of Sweden. Linnéa Bruno Feministiskt initiativ. Feminism – ”the missing dimension in an old political landscape”, our independent ideological point of departure . Outline.

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Challenges and Possibilities for Political Feminism: The Case of Sweden

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  1. Challenges and Possibilitiesfor Political Feminism:The Case of Sweden Linnéa Bruno Feministiskt initiativ

  2. Feminism – ”the missing dimension in an oldpolitical landscape”, our independent ideologicalpoint of departure.

  3. Outline • Feminism today: a growing and vibrant movement. The end of the backlash? • Issues, strategies and successes of second and thirdwave feminism 1965-2000. • Women’ssheltermovement • Developments in Academia • Activism: Cyber feminism and art • State Feminism: Claimingpolitical power • Our allies • Conclusion and discussion

  4. Feminism today: a growing and vibrant movement. The end of the backlash? No sign of a ’sterialized’ feminist ’movementwithoutmovement’ – quite the opposite: Everyday, truly feminist articles are published in newspapers and online magazines Everyweek, a number of manifestations, seminars and conferences Feminist issues are highlighted in public and private theatres and museums, comics, music, performance art etc

  5. Second wave feminism in Sweden 1965-1980 The ”unhappymarriage” of marxism and feminism: critique of onedimensionalclassanalysis Radical feminism: domestic and sexualviolence on the agenda Childcare Abortion and contraceptives From 1975: the women’ssheltermovement From 1980: political backlash butacademic progress Strategies: Consciosnessrisinggroups: ”The personal is political” Demonstrations in the streeets Separatism and emphasis on ”sisterhood”

  6. Swedish second wave feminists claimingdaycare for all children and women’sliberation to be recognized as equallyimportant to classstruggle

  7. Thirdwave feminism 1990-2000 A response to a decrease in femalepolitical representation Debates on the challenges of diversity: ”identitypolitics”, queer and lesbian critique of ”sisterhood” Feminstbecame a hipidentity Feminist selfdefence, hotlines and empowermentcenters for younggirls: demands on bodilyintegrity Rise of state feminism: largegovernmentalinquiriesinformed by feminist research Gendermainstreaming – and backlash Severalimportant reforms: ”Daddy’smonths” – towardsequal parental responsibilities A new crime: gross violation of women’sintegrity Criminalization of buying sex Consensus in Parliament on genderequality as politicalgoal

  8. Fittstim – an influentialcollection of angry, sad and funnytestimonies from young Swedish feminists of the 1990-ies.

  9. GenderEquality – an explicit politicalgoal in Sweden”Women and men shallhave the same power to shape society and theirownlives” • Equal representation in private, public and civil sector • Economic equalitythroughout the life course • Equal distribution of unpaiddomestic and care work • Ending of men’sviolenceagainstwomen

  10. Current observations in Swedish feminist movement • Cyber feminism: Young activistsengage in debates online, sharearticles, films and images. Feminist page ”Supersnippan” has 36 000 likes on facebook - morethananypolitical party. • Increasedawareness of intersectionsexism-racism-classoppression • Racialized feminists takinginitiatives • Humour is an effectiveweapon

  11. Activists dress August Strindberg in pink, as a protest againstmarginalization of femalewriters and artists.

  12. Possible and actual allies Unions – especially for nurses, teachers and othersworking in femaledominated and underpaid public sector Ecologists/Greenmovement Women’ssheltermovement Anti-military/Peacemovement Anti-racistorganizations and Asylum right movement Children’s rights movement Organizations lobbying for rights of disabledpeople LGHBTQ-rightsorganizations

  13. Pride parade in Stockholm 2012

  14. Stockholm, October 2013: On ourway to the Parliament, to deliver 13 politicaldemands.

  15. Conclusion and discussion • State feminism has beensuccesful in manyrespects – now is the time to step forward • We are not demanding the right to exploitothers and the planet like men do – we are questioning that norm and order • Feminism is needed in Academia, civil society, arts as well as in politicalassemblies • Demandinggenderequality and social justiceimpliestakingourselvesseriosly, using the rights and scope for action wehave – thanks to ourforerunners • Weowe it to ourchildren

  16. DON’T PANIC – ORGANISE!

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