The aim of the plenary is to explore and discuss the fact that gender history in the Nordic countries is or has been separated from other parts of historical research studies and publication. There are separate journals and conferences, and women‘s history is most usually taught separately instead of being integrated into curricula as a normal part of „ordinary history“. What has become of women‘s and gender history in the assumed Nordic equality oriented culture? Can we proceed teaching women‘s history and gender history at the same time as more and more students are taking gender study courses on the one hand, but on the other hand there are „ordinary history“ courses that sometimes have a gender aspect but not a gender perspective? Therefore the key question is: Do we still need special gender history courses? And do we need women‘s history and gender history?

Chair: Erla Hulda Halldórsdóttir, historian/PhD student, Centre for Research in the Humanities, University of Iceland

Yvonne Svanström, associate professor, Stockholm University: Feminism or gender? Integration or separation?

Vision and reality?
Pirjo Markkola, professor, Åbo Akademi: Women ‘s history meets the historical journals
Elisabet Haavet, professor, University of Bergen: Gender history in Nordic institutions –separation or integration?
Deborah Simonton, associate professor, University of Southern Denmark: Experiences from GBR & Denmark

General discussion

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Panel samtal: International relations and the women‘s movement

Onsdag 13/8, kl. 9-10:30 / Wednesday 13 August
(The discussion will be in English)

Women have over the centuries had less access to regional and later even national power bases, such as the church, politics and the economy. But women have taken part in international and transnational organisations, such as the catholic church, international women‘s movements, the international labour movement, international co-operative movement, and Christian missions. Thus, women have met on international ground for a long time, such as in monasteries, at congresses and exhibitions, and at sports competitions, but also within supranational organisations, such as the ILO and the League of Nations.
     How was this international space used by the women assembled there, and how did the international meetings influence the local and national level? Could the international space e.g. compensate in any way for the lack of power bases at the local level? Did gender, class, ethnicity, religion and age matter for access to the international arena? Could the international expertise and social capital empower women to pursue the exercise of power within national speres? And if this internationalisation did not contribute to women accessing power bases, what mechanisms were employed to shut them out, and further, are they still employed within certain institutions?

Chair: Silke Neunsinger, researcher, Labour Movement Archives and Library

Ellen DeBois, professor, University of California, Los Angeles: Women and the League of Nations
Nina Almgren, researcher, University of Uppsala, and Camilla Norrbin, researcher, University of Göteborg: Swedish ambassador´s and female MP´s international activity during the 19th century
Kristín Ástgeirsdóttir, director, The Centre for Gender Equality: From the International Council of Women into the Icelandic parliament. International co-operation in practice
Seija Jalagin, Historiska institutionen, University of Oulu: Female missionaries around the globe

General discussion