Agda Maria Östlund, née Lundgren (3 April 1870 – 26 June 1942) was a Swedish Politician of the

Social Democrats Social democracy is a political, social, and economic philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy. As a policy regime, it is described by academics as advocating economic and social interventions to promote so ...

. 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

Köping ''Köping'' was a Swedish denomination for a market town since the Middle Ages, derived from the Old Norse word ''kaupang''. The designation was officially abolished with the municipal reform of 1971, when Sweden was subdivided into the Municip ...

. Her family was politically aware and encouraged her to be so as well. Her mother made sure that her brothers took as much part in the household chores as Agda. She trained and supported herself as a

seamstress A dressmaker, also known as a seamstress, is a person who makes custom clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. Dressmakers were historically known as mantua-makers, and are also known as a modiste or fabrician. Not ...

from the age of fourteen. She eventually founded her own sewing studio with several employees. She married the steel worker Anders Östlund, with whom she had a daughter, and moved to Stockholm in 1896.

Early political career

Östlund became active in the Social Democratic labour movement early on. She was a member of the '' Stockholms allmänna kvinnoklubb'' ('Stockholm Women's Public Club') from 1903, served as chairman in 1904–05; member of the '' Socialdemokratiska kvinnokongressen'' (Social Democratic Women's Congress) in 1908–1920; board member of the

Social Democratic Women in Sweden The Social Democratic Women in Sweden ( sv, Sveriges socialdemokratiska kvinnoförbund ), or "S-women" ( ), is the women's wing of the Swedish Social Democratic Party. It was established in 1920 by representatives from 120 local Social Democratic ...

in 1920–1936, and a board member of the Poor Help Board of the Matteus Parish in Stockholm in 1916–1932. In 1902, the Social Democratic Women, through the ''Stockholms allmänna kvinnoklubb'', decided the cooperate with the Swedish Suffrage movement. Östlund was active in the struggle for

women suffrage Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...

, and made many nationwide journeys to speak in its favour.

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 Kerstin Hesselgren (14 January 1872 – 19 August 1962) was a Swedish politician. Hesselgren became the first woman to be elected into the Upper House of the Swedish Parliament after female suffrage was introduced in 1921. She was elected by sug ...

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 Gösta Berling: “Äntligen stod prästen i predikstolen” Finally the preacher stood in the preacher’s chair' 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

spousal abuse Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner v ...

, women's pension and medical care for women and children. She also raised the question of

abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pre ...

, during which several MPs left the room in protest. 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".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

References

*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

Life

Early political career

Parliamentary career

References

Further reading