Finnish Women Research Articles

War agency in women’s auxiliary military organizations: the case of Lotta Svärd in Finland

ABSTRACT Women’s participation in auxiliary military organizations is a little-studied subject in the field of international relations. This article examines women’s war agency – or, rather, agentic capacity – in the Finnish women’s auxiliary organization Lotta Svärd during the Second World War. I discuss how war agency emerges from the embodied capacity to act through the primacy of corporeal, relational, and material practices by which experiences, meaning, and matter create reciprocally agentic capacities. The war agency of these women was not based on particular subject positions within the organization; instead, it came about as a result of the capacity of the material and the relational to enact the world anew. My analysis of the life-story data reveals that the ideological work of participating in an auxiliary military organization played only a minor role in the lives of the members. The finding calls into question the presumed distinction between the political and the apolitical and generates a broader view of what counts as political experience and agency during war.

Pathways into single motherhood, re-partnering, and trajectories of antidepressant medication purchases

Single motherhood is known to be distressing, and to be associated with poor mental health. However, less is known about the pathways into and out of single motherhood, or about the mental health trajectories of single mothers. We used total population registry data on Finnish women who experienced the life events of separation (616,762), widowhood (43,355), or child birth (515,756) during the 1995–2018 period while between the ages of 15–64. Single mothers were compared with women who experienced the same life event, but without becoming a single mother. The results for women who separated showed that among single mothers, there was a substantial increase in antidepressant use at the time of separation, and only a moderate decline after separation. Among women who experienced widowhood, those who had underage children initially had lower antidepressant use than women without children, but this gap narrowed in the post-widowhood period. In addition, single women experienced more unfavorable mental health trajectories than partnered women around the time they gave birth. Re-partnering was associated with more favorable mental health among all groups of single mothers. Given the growing prevalence of single-parent households, our results underscore the need for context-specific interventions to support single mothers’ mental health.

Adherence to Life's simple 7 is associated with better carotid properties

Background and aimsCardiovascular health scores have emerged as a simple way to assess the risk to suffer from a cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 constitutes of modifiable lifestyle factors to reduce cardiovascular risk. Its association with carotid properties is yet inconclusive. The aim of this study is to determine the association between the adherence to Life's Simple 7 and carotid properties in middle-aged to elderly Finns. MethodsA representative sample of Finnish men and women aged 55–74 years was included in the present study. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), lumen diameter (cLD), and carotid distensibility were measured by transcutaneous ultrasound using state-of-the-art wall contour detection techniques. The Life's Simple 7 cardiovascular health score was calculated using seven categories (body mass index, cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, smoking status, physical activity, and diet). In accordance to the American Heart Association, for each category, an ideal score was given 2 points, intermediate scores 1 point, and poor scores 0 points. ResultsIn total, 1400 (49.4% male) subjects were included in the analyses. After adjusting for age and sex, we found that subjects with a an ideal cardiovascular health score had lower cLD than those with an intermediate score (−0.21 mm, 95% CI: 0.37 to −0.05 mm, p=0.005) and a poor score (−0.39 mm, 95% CI: 0.65 to −0.12 mm, p=0.001). Similarly, subjects with an ideal health score had higher carotid distensibility than those with an intermediate score (0.0032 1/kPa, 95% CI: 0.009–0.0055 1/kPa, p=0.002) and a poor score (0.0018 1/kPa, 95% CI: 0.0005–0.0032 1/kPa, p=0.004). We found no differences regarding cIMT. ConclusionsIn middle-aged to elderly Finns, higher adherence to the Life's Simple 7 is associated with lower cLD and higher distensibility, but not with cIMT. Adherence to healthy lifestyle habits is therefore associated with better carotid structure and carotid function in middle-aged to elderly Finns.

The role of self-esteem on fear of childbirth and birth experience

ABSTRACT Objective Fear of childbirth (FOC), also referred to as tokophobia, can have detrimental consequences for a woman’s well-being during pregnancy and for their subjective birth experience. However, it is unknown what role self-esteem plays in the relationship between FOC and the experience of childbirth. This study investigates the relation between FOC and the birth experience, and the role of self-esteem in that relation. Methods We studied 125 nulliparous and parous Finnish women from their third trimester of pregnancy to 4–8 weeks postpartum. Path analysis with MLR estimation was conducted using MPlus to predict the childbirth experience according to prior self-esteem and fear of childbirth as well as their interaction. Also, age and parity were included as predictors of the birth experience, as well as their interactions with self-esteem. FOC was measured with the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire – version A (W-DEQ-A), self-esteem with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and birthing experience with the Delivery Satisfaction Scale (DSS). Results We found that self-esteem moderated the association between fear of childbirth and the subjective birth experience: the lower the self-esteem, the stronger the negative connection between FOC and the birth experience; and, reversely, the higher the self-esteem, the weaker the connection between FOC and the birth experience. Conclusions The results highlight intra-group differences between fearful women and contribute to theory formation. They can be used in clinical practice and when planning interventions to reduce negative birth experiences.

FMR1 alleles in women with idiopathic infertility

Introduction: The frequency of the premutated alleles of the FMR1 gene varies from 1: 100 to 1: 260 Israeli, Canadian, Finnish and American women, but it is unknown in Brazil. Premutation carriers may have reduced reproductive age and are at risk of transmitting the expanded allele to their offspring, and consequently fragile X syndrome. Objective: To observe the distribution range of the FMR1 gene alleles in a population of women with idiopathic infertility, without symptoms of premature ovarian insufficiency. Methods: The presence of premutation in FMR1 was assessed by conventional PCR, agarose and acrylamide gel and analysis of fragments in capillary electrophoresis. From the lymphocyte DNA obtained from 283 women undergoing infertility treatment. Results: It was observed that 169 patients had the normal heterozygous allele (59.7%), 114 had the normal homozygous allele (40.6%) and no patient had the premutation. Premature ovarian insufficiency is seen in 20 to 30% of women with the premutated allele. Thus, the condition can be asymptomatic in a large part of the premutation carriers. Brazil has a diverse population and, therefore, the allele frequencies of many gene variants are unknown. Previous Brazilian studies have shown a low frequency of the premutated allele in different patient cohorts. Corroborating these articles, the results demonstrated that the frequency of the premutated allele is low in the infertile women population studied. Conclusion: Tracking the size of the FMR1 gene alleles allows the expansion of knowledge about the frequency of risk alleles associated to genetic diseases in the Brazilian population.

Menopause modulates the circulating metabolome: evidence from a prospective cohort study.

We studied the changes in the circulating metabolome and their relation to the menopausal hormonal shift in 17β-oestradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone levels among women transitioning from perimenopause to early postmenopause. We analysed longitudinal data from 218 Finnish women, 35 of whom started menopausal hormone therapy during the study. The menopausal transition was monitored with menstrual diaries and serum hormone measurements. The median follow-up was 14 months (interquartile range: 8-20). Serum metabolites were quantified with targeted nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics. The model results were adjusted for age, follow-up duration, education, lifestyle, and multiple comparisons. Menopause was associated with 85 metabolite measures. The concentration of apoB (0.17 standard deviation [SD], 99.5% confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.31), very-low-density lipoprotein triglycerides (0.25 SD, CI 0.05-0.45) and particles (0.21 SD, CI 0.05-0.36), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (0.17 SD, CI 0.01-0.34) and particles (0.17 SD, CI 0.03-0.31), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) triglycerides (0.24 SD, CI 0.02-0.46), glycerol (0.32 SD, CI 0.07-0.58) and leucine increased (0.25 SD, CI 0.02-0.49). Citrate (-0.36 SD, CI -0.57 to -0.14) and 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations decreased (-0.46 SD, CI -0.75 to -0.17). Most metabolite changes were associated with the menopausal hormonal shift. This explained 11% and 9% of the LDL cholesterol and particle concentration increase, respectively. Menopausal hormone therapy was associated with increased medium-to-large HDL particle count and decreased small-to-medium LDL particle and glycine concentration. Menopause is associated with proatherogenic circulating metabolome alterations. Female sex hormones levels are connected to the alterations, highlighting their impact on women's cardiovascular health.

Baroness Alexandra Gripenberg and the International Council of Women: the Finnish feminist's international success and national adversity, 1888–1911

ABSTRACT In 1911, Finland became one of the last northern European countries to join the ICW. The formation of a national chapter was preceded by an almost twenty-five-year crusade by one woman, Baroness Alexandra Gripenberg, who was the most internationally recognised Finnish feminist of her time. By focusing on her correspondence, this article sheds light on an important chapter in the history of international feminism in Finland. It discusses Gripenberg's successful career in the ICW from the 1880s and her national attempts to gather the various women's movements under one umbrella organisation that would be eligible for the full membership of the ICW. The article also suggests that universal suffrage in 1906 had an ambivalent impact on women's organising in Finland: as women's activism was channelled into political parties, the Finnish women's rights organisations lost some of their previous appeal.

Radical sex role ideology and the Finnish gender role movement in the late 1960s

ABSTRACT An active discussion of gender roles and the need to renegotiate them took place in the late 1960s in Finland. While previous studies have associated this ‘sex role debate’ with the independent civic organisation Association 9, this article focuses on the wider gender role movement. The article analyses the interplay and differences among the Finnish Women’s Democratic League, the Committee for Women’s Status, and Association 9’s grassroots activism between 1965 and 1970. It demonstrates that similar ideas about sex roles were presented simultaneously in two public spheres: the dominant public, where the ideas were promoted by Association 9, and the people’s democratic counterpublic, which presented the goals of the Finnish Women’s Democratic League. Both discussions also influenced the work of the Committee for Women’s Status in Finland. These organisations had divergent modes of action, ranging from a civic association to party political organisation and parliamentary committee, but the theoretical premises of their conceptualisations of gendered societal structures had clear similarities. We show this by drawing on the archives of Association 9 and the Finnish Women’s Democratic League, including original documents such as minutes of meetings and newspaper and magazine clippings, and the Committee for Women’s Status’s White Paper.

Young women’s contradictory expectations and their perceived capabilities for future work-family reconciliation in Finland

ABSTRACT This paper explores young women’s expectations on future work-family reconciliation in Finland, a Nordic country well-known for the promotion of gender equality. Utilising Sen’s capabilities approach, we content-analysed thirty individual interviews to identify differences in women’s expectations and their perceived capabilities in future work and care. The results showed that irrespective of their labour market status and educational attainment, the women’s expectations were contradictory, reflecting a current Finnish gender culture that embraces both the ideal of shared parenthood and the primacy of maternal care. Between-group differences were also found. The employed women perceived themselves as having the capability to balance work, family and, personal time in the future. The women who were studying and had higher education- and career-related expectations perceived themselves as capable of combating gender inequality in their future working lives. In contrast, the unemployed women perceived their capabilities in both their future work and care as limited, thereby constraining their agency to realise their choices in work-family reconciliation and family decision-making. These findings indicate that Finnish women’s expectations on future work-family reconciliation are shaped by institutional, societal and individual socioeconomic factors.

Future population ageing and productivity in Finland under different education and fertility scenarios

This study projects different dependency ratios under various scenarios of future fertility and tertiary education in Finland to assess how the economic consequences of population aging depend on these trends. Applying a multidimensional demographic approach through a discrete-time microsimulation model, we project the newly introduced productivity-weighted labour force dependency ratio for Finnish scenarios until 2060 and compared it with the labour force dependency ratio and the traditional age dependency ratio.
 Results show that population aging looks less daunting when considering labour force dependency ratios as compared to purely age-based ratios, yet all measures and scenarios show a deterioration of the dependency ratio. While the old age dependency ratio is projected to increase by 73 per cent, the labour force dependency ratio would increase by 32 per cent, and the productivity weighted labour force dependency ratio by 28 per cent. Provided a more rapid increase in educational attainment, the last indicator is expected to increase less, with 21 per cent until 2060. Should the stalled trend in educational achievement of the 2010s continue, there would be very modest future gains in the productivity-weighted ratio. In other words, the consequences of population ageing look less dramatic for economic productivity, were Finnish men to become as educated as Finnish women.
 Of the three fertility scenarios considered, a total fertility rate of 2.0 is most advantageous and a low fertility of 1.2 least optimal for adult dependency ratios, but only after 2050. Interestingly, a combination of recovered fertility to 1.6 with a more rapid educational expansion would be better for productivity than only raising fertility to 2.0. Boosting educational levels would hence mitigate the negative effects of a shrinking labour force more than increasing fertility within reasonable bounds.
 Our results suggest that implementation of the current government goals for educational expansion, combined with a not unrealistic recovery of total fertility rates to around 1.6, would both clearly alleviate the worsening dependency ratio. We conclude that although there is no quick fix to the economic effects of population ageing, these can be proactively mitigated with different and complementing policies, and taking into account multidimensional population trends.

“A Man Is Practically the General Norm” – A Case Study of Gender Inequality and Whiteness in the Classical Music Scene in Finland

ABSTRACT In this article I show how generally accepted forms of performance practice and performances by generally idealized performance figures reveal gendered and racialized imaginaries that prevail in the Finnish classical music culture. The research material for this article was gathered through thematic in-depth interviews with fourteen white cis women professional Finnish classical pianists, violinists, violists, and cellists between the ages of 25 and 45. I ask how gendered and racialized constructions are conveyed in performance ideals maintained by widely acclaimed performers and traditionally accepted ways of performing musical works. Further, I ask how gendered and racialized constructions associated with idealized performers and performance ideals shape, intertwine in, and influence the embodied experience of Finnish women musicians. I argue that the performers that are widely seen as quintessential form a canon of performers, that have a crucial role in maintaining the oppressive status quo of classical music by reaffirming and maintaining the idealized aesthetics through the very fleshy act of performing Eurocentric, gendered and racialized social imaginaries. These social imaginaries partly shape musicians’ embodied subjectivity and affect their self-esteem as well as their understanding of gendered and racialized bodies, and their social value.

Parity and gestational age are associated with vaginal microbiota composition in term and late term pregnancies.

SummaryBackgroundVaginal microbiota and its potential contribution to preterm birth is under intense research. However, only few studies have investigated the vaginal microbiota in later stages of pregnancy or at the onset of labour.MethodsWe used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to analyse cross-sectional vaginal swab samples from 324 Finnish women between 37–42 weeks of gestation, sampled before elective caesarean section, at the onset of spontaneous labour, and in pregnancies lasting ≥41 weeks of gestation. Microbiota data were combined with comprehensive clinical data to identify factors associated with microbiota variation.FindingsVaginal microbiota composition associated strongly with advancing gestational age and parity, i.e. presence of previous deliveries. Absence of previous deliveries was a strong predictor of Lactobacillus crispatus dominated vaginal microbiota, and the relative abundance of L. crispatus was higher in late term pregnancies, especially among nulliparous women.InterpretationThis study identified late term pregnancy and reproductive history as factors underlying high abundance of gynaecological health-associated L. crispatus in pregnant women. Our results suggest that the vaginal microbiota affects or reflects the regulation of the duration of gestation and labour onset, with potentially vast clinical utilities. Further studies are needed to address the causality and the mechanisms on how previous labour, but not pregnancy, affects the vaginal microbiota. Parity and gestational age should be accounted for in future studies on vaginal microbiota and reproductive outcomes.FundingThis research was supported by EU H2020 programme Sweet Crosstalk ITN (814102), Academy of Finland, State Research Funding, and University of Helsinki.

“I have always said that I am not a feminist, but…”: moderate feminism in the narratives of Finnish women journalists who entered the field between 1960 and 1990

ABSTRACT This article studies lived experiences of gender equality and feminism in Finnish newsrooms between 1960 and 1990. On one hand, the journalists I interviewed claimed they had reported on diverse social issues related to gender equality and feminism throughout their careers. On the other hand, they embraced the idea that the journalistic profession had achieved more gender equality in Finland than in other countries in the Global North and the Nordic region. Using narratives collected from 31 women journalists, I use this contradiction to problematise the relationship between experiences of gender equality and the desire to struggle for feminist demands in professional journalism. I do so by adopting the analytical approach of moderate feminism.

Breakers of glass ceilings: the professional careers of women in Finland and the graduates of three girls’ upper secondary schools (1890s–1910s)

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the occupational emancipation of women in Finland and examines the professional careers of women who graduated with a matriculation examination from three upper secondary girls’ schools during the period of the 1890s to the 1910s. One of the schools was for Finnish-speaking girls, and two of the schools were for Swedish-speaking girls. This article asks what kinds of educational paths and professional careers these upper secondary girls’ school graduates had during their lives after graduation. Attention is paid to both the typical professional careers and to those careers that could be characterised as exceptional and atypical. The source material consists of student registers that offered an opportunity to create a prosopography (i.e. set biography). In this article, the prosopography and individual biographies of women with exceptional careers shed light on the horizon of possibilities for Finnish women at the end of the nineteenth century and in the early twentieth century, specifically, their horizon of possibilities to gain education and degrees, as well as posts in the labour market.

Multivariate analysis of independent roles of socioeconomic status, occupational physical activity, reproductive factors, and postmenopausal hormonal therapy in risk of breast cancer

PurposeThis case–control study assesses the independent roles of reproductive history, postmenopausal hormonal therapy (HT), socioeconomic status (SES), and occupational physical activity on the risk of breast cancer (BC).MethodsOdds ratios (OR) were estimated from conditional logistic multivariate regression model in a data set of 19,253 Finnish women diagnosed with BC between 1994 and 2013 and 96,265 age-matched population controls.ResultsBoth pre- and postmenopausal white-collar workers had significantly increased risk of ductal and lobular BC as compared to manual workers. Moderate occupational physical activity reduced risk of lobular BC by 14%. There was a transient increase in the risk of BC observed after each birth followed by a protective effect starting some years after the delivery. As the number of children increased, the short-term excess risk was lower and protective effect was observed earlier. Continuous estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT) significantly increased the risk of both ductal and lobular BC and the magnitude of risk was directly proportional to duration of use (OR for 5+ years of use 2.26, 95% confidence interval 2.12–2.42). Monthly EPT for 5+ years increased the risk (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.20–1.45). Users of estradiol plus levonorgestrel intrauterine system devices showed ORs of 1.56 (95% CI 1.45–1.69) and 2.18 (95% CI 1.81–2.64) for ductal and lobular BC, respectively.ConclusionThis study concludes that pregnancy has a dual effect on BC risk, with a transient increase in risk followed by a long-term protective effect. The SES and HT have a large effect on BC risk while occupational physical activity has only a small independent effect.

Masturbation Frequency and Sexual Function in Individuals with and without Sexual Partners

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between masturbation frequency and sexual dysfunction among men and women, focusing on individuals with and without regular sexual partners, and to determine whether sexual compatibility (e.g., similar sexual desire levels and a match between desired behaviors and behaviors one’s partner is willing to engage in) in the relationship affects masturbation frequency. Here, 12,271 Finnish men and women completed an online survey about masturbation frequency, sexual function, and sexual compatibility with their partner for those who were in a relationship. The results indicated that masturbation frequency was positively associated with overall sexual function for women. This was moderated by relationship status, meaning that more frequent masturbation was associated with better orgasmic function and sexual satisfaction in single women, whereas the opposite was true for women who were in a relationship. For men, more frequent masturbation was associated with better erectile function for single men, and better ejaculatory latency but worse orgasmic function, intercourse satisfaction, and more symptoms of delayed ejaculation for men who were in a relationship. Lower sexual compatibility and sexual dysfunctions in the partner were associated with more frequent masturbation in both sexes. The associations between masturbation frequency and sexual function vary for single and partnered individuals, and are, for the latter group, further affected by sexual compatibility.

Iodine status in pregnant women and infants in Finland

PurposeIodine insufficiency during pregnancy may adversely influence fetal growth and development. There is a lack of information on iodine status in pregnant women and infants in many countries including Finland. The aim of this study is to determine dietary intake of iodine and the iodine status in a population of Finnish pregnant women and their infants.MethodsUrine samples were collected from women participating in a mother–child clinical study at early (n = 174) and late pregnancy (n = 186) and at three months of postpartum (n = 197), when infant samples were also collected (n = 123). Urine iodine concentration was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cutoffs for iodine insufficiency were < 150 µg/L during pregnancy and < 100 µg/L at postpartum and in infants. Iodine intake was assessed using 3-day food diaries.ResultsIncreased risk of insufficiency, based on urinary iodine concentrations, was observed in the groups investigated in this study. Of the women studied, 66% had urinary iodine concentrations indicating insufficient intakes and iodine insufficiency at early pregnancy, 70% at late pregnancy and 59% at three months of postpartum. This was also the case in 29% of the three-month-old infants. Estimation of iodine intake revealed that iodine insufficient women had lower intakes of iodine from the diet, from food supplements and from diet plus supplements than iodine sufficient women in early pregnancy and at three months of post-partum. In late pregnancy, this difference was seen for iodine intake from supplements.ConclusionThe majority of the women manifested with low urine iodine concentrations both during and after pregnancy. Similarly, one-third of the infants presented with iodine insufficiency. Maternal iodine intake data support these findings. These observations may have implications for optimal child cognitive development.

Educational inequalities in epilepsy mortality in the Baltic countries and Finland in 2000\u20132015

Little is known about socioeconomic differences in epilepsy mortality. This study examined educational inequalities in epilepsy mortality in the general population in the Baltic countries and Finland in 2000–2015. Education-specific mortality estimates for individuals aged 30–74 in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were obtained from census-linked mortality datasets while data for Finland came from the register-based population and death data file of Statistics Finland. Trends and educational inequalities in epilepsy mortality were assessed using age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) per 100,000 person years and age-adjusted mortality rate ratios (RRs) calculated using Poisson regression. ASMRs were higher in men than women in all countries. ASMRs reduced in 2000–2015 among all men and women except for Finnish women. Among men, an inverse educational gradient in epilepsy mortality in 2000–2007 widened in 2008–2015 with ASMRs falling among high and mid educated men in all countries but increasing among low educated men in three countries. An inverse educational gradient in female mortality remained in all countries throughout 2000–2015. Although epilepsy mortality fell in the Baltic countries and Finland (men only) in 2000–2015, this masked a clear inverse educational gradient in mortality that became steeper across the period.

A plasma metabolite score of three eicosanoids predicts incident type 2 diabetes: a prospective study in three independent cohorts

IntroductionPeptide markers of inflammation have been associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. The role of upstream, lipid-derived mediators of inflammation such as eicosanoids, remains less clear. The aim...

Optimizing screening with faecal immunochemical test for both sexes - Cost-effectiveness analysis from Finland

A faecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening pilot was introduced in Finland in 2019 with sex-specific screening strategies. This study aims to model cost-effectiveness of sex-specific strategies for the whole population, and to assess whether the current strategies are optimal.We developed separate MISCAN-Colon models, including different FIT performances, for the Finnish men and women using the first-year data of the FIT screening pilot. We evaluated 180 FIT strategies varying in FIT cut-off, screening interval, age to start, and age to stop screening, and compared them to no-screening by sex. We used incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) to identify the optimal strategy after combining all male and female strategies and restricting the analysis by costs and referral rate to diagnostic colonoscopies.Offering annual FIT screening with a cut-off of 25 μg/g at 50–79 years in men and with a cut-off of 10 μg/g at 55–69 years in women was optimal. This combined strategy prevented 28% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases and 55% of CRC deaths with acceptable costs (ICER = 9000€/life-years gained). Screening at the current target age of 60–74 years was suboptimal for both sexes. Among strategies with the same target age and interval for both sexes, expected benefits from optimal screening were lower but still reasonable.Our results support a wider age range of screening in men, and a lower cut-off for a positive test in women when restrictions on colonoscopy capacity and costs are in place. National FIT screening program should start at younger age.