Culture enthusiasts carry on legacy of suffragettes
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Åsa Beckman of Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter connected the women who fought for voting rights in the early 1900s with contemporary “culture aunts”, women deeply engaged with and supportive of cultural life in their communities. Beckman read Elin Wägner’s novel Pennskaftet, which depicts women campaigning for suffrage, alongside Lisa Boda’s new study, Dom kallar oss kulturtanter (They Call Us Culture Aunts).
Boda’s research identifies these women, often stereotyped for their clothing choices, as dedicated consumers and promoters of culture even in areas with limited access. These women do more than simply enjoy books, theater, and film. They actively participate in cultural organizations like singing groups and book clubs, and they organize events to share culture with others. Joakim Rindå of the Riksteatern, Sweden’s national touring theater, emphasized that these women create essential community spaces beyond commercial areas.
They also extend hospitality to newcomers, like refugees from Ukraine and Syria, offering food and lodging. Beckman sees a direct link between the suffragettes’ dedication and the culture aunts’ ongoing commitment to enriching society. She argues that these women are exemplary citizens, open-minded, curious, and compassionate, and that a society guided by their values would be a better place. Beckman encouraged voters to remember the contributions of both these groups as they went to the polls.
