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

Social Democrats Social democracy is a social, economic, and political philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy and a gradualist, reformist, and democratic approach toward achieving social equality. In modern practice, s ...

. 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 Munic ...

. 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 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. Notable d ...

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 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 A woman is an adult female human. Before adulthood, a female child or adolescent is referred to as a girl. Typically, women are of the female sex and inherit a pair of X chromosomes, one from each parent, and women with functional uteruses ...

, 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 Nelly Maria Thüring (21 June 1875, in Vankiva – 2 January 1972, in Enskede), was a Swedish photographer and politician (Social Democrat). She was one of the first five women elected to the Swedish parliament in 1921. Biography Thüring was ...

(Social Democrat), Bertha Wellin (Conservative) and

Elisabeth Tamm Elisabeth Tamm (30 June 1880, at the manor Fogelstad in Julita, Sweden, Julita, Södermanlands län – 23 September 1958) was a Swedish Liberalism, liberal politician and women's rights activist. She was known in the parliament as ('Tamm of ...

(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 sugg ...

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

Gösta Berling's Saga ''Gösta Berling's Saga'' ( ), also known as ''The Story of Gösta Berling'' or ''The Saga of Gösta Berling'', is the debut novel of Swedish Nobel Prize-winning author Selma Lagerlöf, published in 1891. It was made into a 1924 silent film dire ...

: “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 is violence that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. In a broader sense, abuse including nonphysical abuse in such settings is called domestic abuse. The term "domestic violence" is often use ...

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

abortion Abortion is the early termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. Abortions that occur without intervention are known as miscarriages or "spontaneous abortions", and occur in roughly 30–40% of all pregnan ...

, 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

Bibliography

*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

Bibliography

Further reading