Abstract
Abstract This article explores the nature of women's political agency in Finland. Finnish national identity and ideology is framed by the national narrative authored in Finland's preindependence period. The authorship of the narrative and the nature of female encoding in that narrative afforded women a certain degree of political legitimacy as participants in public policy. Women's political agency can be seen in their high level of public political participation and ongoing involvement in the development and implementation of welfare state policies. This political power is nonetheless bound by the ideology of a national “image-appropriate” female and state understanding of equality. A portrait of two different women's voluntary associations illustrates the limits of women's political agency in Finland and also provides a brief introduction to the unique difficulties encountered by a feminist movement in a social welfare state.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call