Att förhandla sitt medborgarskap : Kvinnor som kollektiva politiska aktörer i Örebro 1900-1950

Sammanfattning: The dissertation takes its theoretical departure in the concept of citizenship, conceptualised here both as a status, carrying a wide range of rights, and as a practice, involving both obligations and political participation. The investigation focuses on women in local political parties, trade unions, women's organizations for temperance, philanthropy and the franchise, and women's networks in Örebro. It is possible to understand and explain women's collective actions in their own organizations as a struggle and negotiation about the status and meaning of their political citizenship.The survey reveals that women´s political representation did not correspond to their activities and responsibilities as citizens. They received the same formal status of citizenship, but not the same opportunities as men. The huge obstacle was the nomination process in the political parties. It was mostly through the demands of the women's own associations, that women were represented at all. On the other hand, separate organization was an obstacle for women to represent anything other than their female sex. Women tried to make sense of a gendered citizenship, full of contradictions and paradoxes. They displayed a large and multifaceted practice of citizenship. They tried to command respect for their contribution to publice welfare. They spent a lot of time on voluntary work for the common good. They educated themselves and other women to be good citizens. This can be interpreted as an adaption to the male definition of citizenship. But women also tried to negotiate with men about the meaning of female citizenship. They suggested that what women did for the common good should be upgraded. They tried alternative ways to achieve economic independence and economic citizenship. This can be interpreted as resistance to the male definition of citizenship