Agda Östlund
Agda Östlund | |
---|---|
MP for the Social democrats | |
In office 1921–1940 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 3 April 1870 |
Died | 1942 |
Political party | Social Democrats |
Agda Maria Östlund, née Lundgren (3 April 1870 – 26 June 1942) was a Swedish Politician of the Social Democrats. She was one of the first four women to be elected to the Swedish parliament after the introduction of women suffrage.
Life
Agda Östlund was born in a working-class home in
Early political career
Östlund became active in the Social Democratic labour movement early on. She was a member of the
In 1902, the Social Democratic Women, through the Stockholms allmänna kvinnoklubb, decided the cooperate with the
Parliamentary career
In 1921, Agda Östlund became one of the five first women to be elected to the Swedish Parliament after women suffrage alongside Nelly Thüring (Social Democrat), Bertha Wellin (Conservative) and Elisabeth Tamm (liberal) in the Lower chamber, and Kerstin Hesselgren in the Upper chamber. Östlund remained in the Parliament until 1940.
In parliament, Agda Östlund became the first woman MP to speak in the Swedish Second Chamber. She opened her speech by saying: “Äntligen stod kvinnan i talarstolen” ['Finally, the woman stood in the speaker’s chair'], rewording a phrase from the Saga of
She was also the first of her gender to be appointed member of the Parliament's Legislative Committee as a representative of her party. Östlund engaged in the question of
Agda Östlund was regarded as a representative and role model for many working-class women. Asked where she was given the courage to involve in politics, she answered: "When you truly want something, you are given courage".[2]
References
- ^ Anne-Marie Lindgren & Marika Lindgren Åsbrink: Systrar kamrater! Arbetarrörelsens kvinnliga pionjärer. Stockholm 2007
- ^ Flood, Hulda (1954). Agda Östlund: pionjär i genombrottstid. Skrifter / utgivna av Arbetarnas kulturhistoriska sällskap, 99-0560030-2 ; N.F., 16. Stockholm: Kooperativa förbundets bokförlag. Libris 1179637
- Flood, Hulda (1954). Agda Östlund: pionjär i genombrottstid. Skrifter / utgivna av Arbetarnas kulturhistoriska sällskap, 99-0560030-2 ; N.F., 16. Stockholm: Kooperativa förbundets bokförlag. Libris 1179637