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.
Agda Östlund was born in a working-class home in Köping. 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 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 careeredit
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 in 1920–1936, and a board member of the Poor Help Board of the Matteus Parish in Stockholm in 1916–1932.[1]
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, and made many nationwide journeys to speak in its favour.
Parliamentary careeredit
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 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, women's pension and medical care for women and children. She also raised the question of abortion, 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".[2]
agda, östlund, agda, maria, östlund, née, lundgren, april, 1870, june, 1942, swedish, politician, social, democrats, first, four, women, elected, swedish, parliament, after, introduction, women, suffrage, social, democratsin, office, 1921, 1940personal, detail. Agda Maria Ostlund nee 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 Agda OstlundAgda OstlundMP for the Social democratsIn office 1921 1940Personal detailsBorn3 April 1870Died1942Political partySocial Democrats Contents 1 Life 1 1 Early political career 1 2 Parliamentary career 2 References 3 Further readingLife editAgda Ostlund was born in a working class home in Koping 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 from the age of fourteen She eventually founded her own sewing studio with several employees She married the steel worker Anders Ostlund with whom she had a daughter and moved to Stockholm in 1896 Early political career edit Ostlund became active in the Social Democratic labour movement early on She was a member of the Stockholms allmanna 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 in 1920 1936 and a board member of the Poor Help Board of the Matteus Parish in Stockholm in 1916 1932 1 In 1902 the Social Democratic Women through the Stockholms allmanna kvinnoklubb decided the cooperate with the Swedish Suffrage movement Ostlund was active in the struggle for women suffrage and made many nationwide journeys to speak in its favour Parliamentary career edit In 1921 Agda Ostlund became one of the five first women to be elected to the Swedish Parliament after women suffrage alongside Nelly Thuring Social Democrat Bertha Wellin Conservative and Elisabeth Tamm liberal in the Lower chamber and Kerstin Hesselgren in the Upper chamber Ostlund remained in the Parliament until 1940 In parliament Agda Ostlund became the first woman MP to speak in the Swedish Second Chamber She opened her speech by saying Antligen stod kvinnan i talarstolen Finally the woman stood in the speaker s chair rewording a phrase from the Saga of Gosta Berling Antligen stod prasten 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 Ostlund engaged in the question of spousal abuse women s pension and medical care for women and children She also raised the question of abortion during which several MPs left the room in protest Agda Ostlund 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 edit Anne Marie Lindgren amp Marika Lindgren Asbrink Systrar kamrater Arbetarrorelsens kvinnliga pionjarer Stockholm 2007 Flood Hulda 1954 Agda Ostlund pionjar i genombrottstid Skrifter utgivna av Arbetarnas kulturhistoriska sallskap 99 0560030 2 N F 16 Stockholm Kooperativa forbundets bokforlag Libris 1179637 Flood Hulda 1954 Agda Ostlund pionjar i genombrottstid Skrifter utgivna av Arbetarnas kulturhistoriska sallskap 99 0560030 2 N F 16 Stockholm Kooperativa forbundets bokforlag Libris 1179637Further reading editAgda Ostlund at Svenskt kvinnobiografiskt lexikon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agda Ostlund amp oldid 1138571786, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
