Understanding Power and Performing Resistance: Swedish Feminists, Civil Society Voices, Biopolitics and “Angry” Men

Abstract

This article discusses feminist resistance in relation to different concepts of power. In particular, it analyses current debates within Swedish feminism in order to understand what perceptions of power and resistance are being harboured within these discussions. Within the Swedish feminist debate it has been suggested that the equality debate must be radicalized, creating real change instead of policy reports and political party programmes. Others, however, have argued that we must not abandon equality politics for “conflict, struggle, and revolt”. This debate is discussed from different theories of power and resistance, and we argue that different forms of power become entangled with different forms of resistance, thus creating manifold and messy forms of resistance.