Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage
Encyclopedia
The Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage (Swedish: Landsföreningen för kvinnans politiska rösträtt), or LKPR, was a part of the general Suffrage
movement and the national society for woman suffrage in Sweden. It was developed from Sveriges allmänna rösträttsförbund (SARF), the Suffrage Movement of Sweden, which was active mainly in acquiring full suffrage for males. The LKPR was a part of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. It was active from 1903 until 1921.
(conservative), Signe Bergman
(social democrat), the teacher Anna Whitlock
and Ann-Margret Holmgren
(liberal). It was supported by women with both left- and right-wing political sympathies.
The first vote about woman suffrage in the Swedish parliament had taken place in 1884 and was voted down with 53 votes against 44. The Swedish suffrage movement mainly used the methods of education, information, advertisement and pins; meetings, conferences and plays. Several famous women participated with their support. Selma Lagerlöf
was an important speaker, because of the general respect she was given in all parts of society, while Ellen Key
was frequently ridiculed in the press. Elin Wägner
was from 1909 one of the most active supporters; she participated in plays in the parts of Jenny Lind
and Fredrika Bremer
, and her novel Pennskaftet (novel) (1910), which spoke for love withouth marriage, became a controversial success in all society and referred to as the bible of the Swedish suffrage movement. The participants was often ridiculed in the press and referred to as homosexuals. Only one street demonstration was ever organised by the society: in Gothenburg, the participants marched with three banners representing people withouth the right to vote. The first banner showed a male criminal in prison, the second a male patient in a mental hospital, ad the third banner the respected author Selma Lagerlöf. Frigga Carlberg
also invited Sylvia Pankhurst
as speaker. The international conference of women suffrage in Stockholm in 1911 has been called the greatest success of the LKPRP. The society published its own paper: "Rösträtt för kvinnor" (Women Suffrage) in 1912-1919. In 1917, there was finally a majority for female suffrage in the parliament; woman suffrage was granted in 1919, and put in effect by the election of 1921.
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
movement and the national society for woman suffrage in Sweden. It was developed from Sveriges allmänna rösträttsförbund (SARF), the Suffrage Movement of Sweden, which was active mainly in acquiring full suffrage for males. The LKPR was a part of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. It was active from 1903 until 1921.
History
The society was chaired by Lydia WahlströmLydia Wahlström
Lydia Katarina Wahlström , was a Swedish historian, author and feminist. She was one of the founders of the Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage and its chairman 1907-1911....
(conservative), Signe Bergman
Signe Bergman
Signe Wilhelmina Ulrika Bergman , was a Swedish feminist.She was the chairman of the Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage in 1914-1917 and the Swedish delegat to International Woman Suffrage Alliance in 1909-1920. She played a leading role in the international congress for woman suffrage in Stockholm...
(social democrat), the teacher Anna Whitlock
Anna Whitlock
Anna Whitlock , was a Swedish school pioneer and feminist. Daughter of the merchant Gustaf Whitlock and Sophie Forsgrén and sister of the feminist Ellen Whitlock....
and Ann-Margret Holmgren
Ann-Margret Holmgren
Ann Margret Holmgren, née Tersmeden , was a Swedish author, feminist and pacifist....
(liberal). It was supported by women with both left- and right-wing political sympathies.
The first vote about woman suffrage in the Swedish parliament had taken place in 1884 and was voted down with 53 votes against 44. The Swedish suffrage movement mainly used the methods of education, information, advertisement and pins; meetings, conferences and plays. Several famous women participated with their support. Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Lagerlöf
Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf was a Swedish author. She was the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and most widely known for her children's book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige ....
was an important speaker, because of the general respect she was given in all parts of society, while Ellen Key
Ellen Key
Ellen Karolina Sofia Key was a Swedish difference feminist writer on many subjects in the fields of family life, ethics and education and was an important figure in the Modern Breakthrough movement...
was frequently ridiculed in the press. Elin Wägner
Elin Wägner
Elin Matilda Elisabet Wägner was a Swedish writer, journalist, feminist, teacher, ecologist and pacifist. She was a member of the Swedish Academy from 1944.- Biography :...
was from 1909 one of the most active supporters; she participated in plays in the parts of Jenny Lind
Jenny Lind
Johanna Maria Lind , better known as Jenny Lind, was a Swedish opera singer, often known as the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she is known for her performances in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and across Europe, and for an extraordinarily...
and Fredrika Bremer
Fredrika Bremer
Fredrika Bremer was a Swedish writer and a feminist activist. She had a large influence on the social development in Sweden, especially in feminist issues.-Background:...
, and her novel Pennskaftet (novel) (1910), which spoke for love withouth marriage, became a controversial success in all society and referred to as the bible of the Swedish suffrage movement. The participants was often ridiculed in the press and referred to as homosexuals. Only one street demonstration was ever organised by the society: in Gothenburg, the participants marched with three banners representing people withouth the right to vote. The first banner showed a male criminal in prison, the second a male patient in a mental hospital, ad the third banner the respected author Selma Lagerlöf. Frigga Carlberg
Frigga Carlberg
Frigga Carlberg née Anna Fredrika Lundgren , was a Swedish writer, social worker and feminist. She was a member of the central comity of the Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage 1903-21 and chairman of the Gothenburg branch of the Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage in 1902-21.Frigga Carlberg was born...
also invited Sylvia Pankhurst
Sylvia Pankhurst
Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst was an English campaigner for the suffragist movement in the United Kingdom. She was for a time a prominent left communist who then devoted herself to the cause of anti-fascism.-Early life:...
as speaker. The international conference of women suffrage in Stockholm in 1911 has been called the greatest success of the LKPRP. The society published its own paper: "Rösträtt för kvinnor" (Women Suffrage) in 1912-1919. In 1917, there was finally a majority for female suffrage in the parliament; woman suffrage was granted in 1919, and put in effect by the election of 1921.
Chairman
- 1903-1907 - Anna WhitlockAnna WhitlockAnna Whitlock , was a Swedish school pioneer and feminist. Daughter of the merchant Gustaf Whitlock and Sophie Forsgrén and sister of the feminist Ellen Whitlock....
(first term) - 1907-1911 - Lydia WahlströmLydia WahlströmLydia Katarina Wahlström , was a Swedish historian, author and feminist. She was one of the founders of the Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage and its chairman 1907-1911....
- 1911-1914 - Anna WhitlockAnna WhitlockAnna Whitlock , was a Swedish school pioneer and feminist. Daughter of the merchant Gustaf Whitlock and Sophie Forsgrén and sister of the feminist Ellen Whitlock....
(second term) - 1914-1917 - Signe BergmanSigne BergmanSigne Wilhelmina Ulrika Bergman , was a Swedish feminist.She was the chairman of the Swedish Society for Woman Suffrage in 1914-1917 and the Swedish delegat to International Woman Suffrage Alliance in 1909-1920. She played a leading role in the international congress for woman suffrage in Stockholm...
- 1918-1921 - Karolina WiderströmKarolina WiderströmKarolina Olivia Widerström, , was a Swedish doctor and gynecologist. She was the first official female physician with a university education in her country. She was also a feminist and a politician, and engaged in the questions of sexual education and female suffrage...