Salaried employees

Midwives | The Association of Women State Employees | Business and Professional Women’s Club | Social Workers in Industry and Business, SAIA |

Midwives

Midwifery has a long history. Of course women have always assisted each other in childbirth. The first statute for midwives in Sweden was issued by Collegium medicum in 1686, and the first regulations were published in 1711 – both of them concerned midwifery in Stockholm. A future midwife must be apprenticed by an experienced midwife, be examined by the town’s medical officer, and be admitted into office with an oath. “Den Swenska Wälöfwade Jord Gumman” [‘The Swedish well-experienced midwife’], by Johan von Hoorn, was published in 1697. National regulations for midwives, stipulating that only educated midwives were eligible to practise their profession, were issued in 1777; it was, however, not until 1908 that all municipalities were obliged to employ qualified midwives.

As early as in 1821, the six months of midwifery education was extended to two years. It “was later developed so that no other country may exhibit such thorough education and professional qualification of midwives as Sweden” (Sv. Uppslagsbok, 1948).

As the first professional society for women in Sweden, Svenska barnmorskeförbundet [Union of Swedish Midwives] was established in 1886, and the still existing journal "Jordemodern" [‘The Midwife’], was founded two years later.

Born in 1871, Jenny Charlotta Karlsson received her midwife’s licence in 1894. She was then active in the municipalities of Torslanda and Björlanda (now two of the city districts of Gothenburg). The documents that she left behind can be read in full text here:

Barnmorskebref för Jenny Charlotta Andersson Berg, Göteborg den 26 juni 1894. (Midwifery certification for Jenny Charlotta Andersson Berg, Gothenburg, 26 June 1894.)
Barnmorskans edsförpliktelse, barnmorskelöftena, odaterat. (Midwife’s oath of office, midwife’s promises, n.d.)
Jenny Carlsson antages som vaccinatrice, utdrag ur protokoll från Lundby sockens kommunalnämnds sammanträde 18 februari 1897. (Acceptance of Jenny Carlsson as vaccinator, excerpt from the Minutes of the meeting of the Municipal Committee in Lundby Parish, 18 February 1897.)
Kontrakt med Torslanda kommun ang. anställning fr.o.m. 1 januari 1912, undertecknat 28 december 1911. (Contract with Torslanda Municipality concerning appointment from 1 January 1912, signed 28 December 1911.)
Underrättelse beträffande ersättning för förlossning av medellös barnaföderska, från Karl Joh. Gezelius, Förste stadsläkare, Göteborg 31 december 1912. (Notification concerning remuneration for the delivery of a penniless woman in confinement, from Karl Joh. Gezelius, First City Medical Officer, Gothenburg 31 December 1912.)
Svenska Barnmorskeförbundets allmänna möte i Göteborg 18-20 augusti 1913. (The annual general meeting of The Swedish Association of Midwives in Gothenburg, 18-20 August 1913.)
Jenny Karlsson antagen som vaxinatörska, utdrag ur protokoll från Torslanda kommunalnämnds sammanträde, 26 mars 1914. (Acceptance of Jenny Carlsson as vaccinator. Excerpt from the Minutes of the Torslanda Municipal Committee’s meeting, 26 March 1914.)
Till Sveriges barnmorskor! : Hvarför hvarje barnmorska bör vara med. Uppmanar till medlemskap i Allmänna Svenska Barnmorskeförbundet. 1915. (To Sweden’s midwives! Why every midwife should join. Encourages midwives to become members of the The Swedish Association of Midwives. 1915.)
Till Sveriges barnmorskor! Skrivelse angående utredning om barnmorskornas lönefrågor. 1918. (To Sweden’s midwives! Communication concerning a report on midwives’ pay issues. 1918.)
Skrivelse angående barnmorskornas löne- och pensionsförhållanden, riktad till landstingspolitikerna, 1918. (Communication concerning midwives’ conditions of pay and pensions, addressed to the county council politicians. 1918.)
Ändring av par. 21 i barnmorskereglementet beträffande förlossning av barn utom äktenskapet. Cirkulär från Förste stadsläkaren i Göteborg 11 januari 1918. (Amendment of § 21 in the midwifery regulations, concerning the delivery of illegitimate children. Circular from the First City Medical Officer in Gothenburg, 11 January 1918.)
Brev från kyrkoherde P. Rydholm i Lundby, angående barnet Erik, vars mor enligt dopsedeln vid födseln skulle ha varit över 51 år, 7 oktober 1919. (Letter from Vicar P. Rydholm in Lundby, concerning the child Erik, whose mother was apparently over 51 years of age at his birth, according to the Certificate of Baptism, 7 October 1919.)
Kontrakt med Torslanda kommun, 12 februari 1920. (Contract with Torslanda Municipality, 12 February 1920.)
Anvisningar från Kungl. Medicinalstyrelsen ang. barnmorskedagböcker, blanketter och hygien, 21 september 1920. (Instructions from the Royal Medical Board concerning midwives’ diaries, forms and hygiene, 21 September 1920.)
Kontrakt med Torslanda kommun, Färgenäs 13 oktober 1920. (Contract with Torslanda Municipality, Färgenäs 13 October 1920.)
Skrivelse angående arvode för fattigvårdsberättigad resp. bemedlad barnaföderska, från Hälsovårdsnämnden i Göteborg 9 november 1920. (Written communication concerning fees for women in confinement, entitled to poor relief or with economic means, respectively, from the Healthcare Committee in Gothenburg, 9 November 1920.)
Revisionsberättelse för Allmänna Svenska Barnmorskeförbundets räkenskaper för år 1920, Göteborg 21 april 1921. (Auditors' Report for The Swedish Association of Midwives' s accounts for the year 1920, Gothenburg 21 April 1921.)
Deltagande i repetionskurs, brev från Förste stadsläkaren i Göteborg, 18 juli 1924. (Participation in a refresher course, letter from the First City Medical Officer in Gothenburg, 18 July 1924.)
Kontrakt med Torslanda kommun, Färgenäs juni 1928. (Contract with Torslanda Municipality, Färgenäs June 1928.)
Brev från Medicinalstyrelsen till kommunalnämndens ordförande i Björlanda kommun, ang. barnmorskekontrakt, 29 maj 1928. (Letter from the Medical Board to the Chairman of the Municipal Committee in Björlanda Municipality, concerning midwifery contracts, 29 May 1928.)
Kontrakt med Björlanda kommun, 1 juni 1928. (Contract with Björlanda Municipality, 1 June 1928.)
Avgångsbetyg från provinsialläkaren Alfr. Herner, Göteborg 4 september 1931. (Graduation certificate from the District Medical Officer Alfr. Herner, Gothenburg 4 September 1931.)
Jenny Charlotta Karlsson retired at the age of 60 due to a forearm injury and age changes of heart and blood vessels.

Further reading
Svenska barnmorskeförbundet
Höjeberg, Pia, Jordemor : barnmorskor och barnaföderskor i Sverige : [ett stycke gömd kvinnohistoria]. - Stockholm, 1981.
Milton, Lena, Folkhemmets barnmorskor : den svenska barnmorskekårens professionalisering under mellan- och efterkrigstid = Midwives in the Folkhem : professionalisation of Swedish midwifery during the interwar and postwar period. - Uppsala, 2001. - Abstract.
Romlid, Christina, Makt, motstånd och förändring : vårdens historia speglad genom det svenska barnmorskeväsendet 1663-1908 = [Power, resistance and change] : [the history of Swedish health care reflected through the official midwife-system 1663-1908]. - Stockholm, 1998. - Abstract.
Öberg, Lisa, Barnmorskan och läkaren : kompetens och konflikt i svensk förlossningsvård 1870-1920. - Stockholm, 1996. - Diss.

The Association of Women State Employees

At the end of the 19th century, there were some changes within state bureaucracy. As a result of the introduction of the typewriter and telephone, many women became state employees. They were given unvaried jobs demanding low skills, with the effect that salaries were kept low. In 1907, female assistants at state departments and authorities founded Föreningen Kvinnor i statens tjänst [The Association of Women State Employees], , FKST, with the aim to consider interests shared by the assistants. The most important questions concerned the right to have a regular job, and, for married women, the right to work as regular civil servants.
FKST lived on until 1953, when the assembly of delegates unanimously decided that the association should expire. Members were advised to join Civila statsförvaltningens tjänstemannaförbund [Union of civil servants in public administration], CST, a TCO association.
Vad vill och kan Föreningen Kvinnor i statens tjänst? (What does the Association of Women in Government Service want and what can it do?)
Stadgar antagna den 11 februari 1908, med ändringar den 10 dec. 1909 ... samt 4 dec. 1931. Stockholm 1936. (Statutes adopted 11 February 1908, with amendments 10 Dec. 1909 ... and 4 Dec. 1931. Stockholm 1936.)
Stadgar ... omarbetade och fastställda den 20 november 1942. Stockholm 1943. (Statutes … revised and established 20 November 1942. Stockholm 1943.)
Årsberättelse för arbetsåret 1943/44. Stockholm 1944. (Annual report for the working year 1943/44. Stockholm 1944.)
Årsberättelse för arbetsåret 1944/45. Stockholm 1945. (Annual report for the working year 1944/45. Stockholm 1945.)
Årsberättelse för arbetsåret 1947/48. Stockholm den 31 oktober 1948. (Annual report for the working year 1947/48. Stockholm 31 October 1948.)
Kallelse till årsmöte fredagen den 26 november 1948 å Margareta Hushållsskola. (Notice of Annual general meeting 26 November 1948 at Margareta Domestic Science College.)
Årsberättelse för arbetsåret 1948/49, Stockholm den 31 oktober 1949. (Annual report for the working year 1948/49, Stockholm 31 October 1949.)

Almgren, Karin, Likalönsfrågan i stöpsleven. Ingår i: Medlemsblad för Föreningen Kvinnor i statens tjänst, 1949:2 (The equal pay issue in the melting pot. Included in: Newsletter for the Association of Women in Civil Service, 1949:2.)
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Further reading
Ericsson, Tom,, Kvinnor i facklig kamp : en studie av Föreningen kvinnor i statens tjänst 1904-1912. - Ingår i: Scandia, 1981:1, s. 109-129.

Business and Professional Women’s Club

The term “professional woman” entered the vocabulary in the 1930s, and the first Yrkeskvinnors Klubb [Business and Professional Women’s Club], was founded in Stockholm in 1931. The club was an association of women in civil service, office work, and in free professions. International Federation of Business and Professional Women served as a model for the club. More clubs were eventually added, and merged into Yrkeskvinnors riksförbund [National union of business and professional women].. The goal was to promote women’s professional education and gender equality, and to collaborate internationally. The union-free, non-religious and politically independent organisation still exists, from 2005 under the name Business and Professional Women.
Stadgar för Yrkeskvinnors Samarbetsförbund, YSF 1949. (Statutes for the Cooperative Federation of Professional Women, YSF 1949.)
Yrkeskvinnors Klubbar i följande städer! 1945. (Professional Women’s Clubs in the following towns! 1945.)
Yrkeskvinnors Klubb, Malmö-Lund, Inbjudan till klubbafton. (Professional Women’s Club, Malmö-Lund. Invitation to club evening.)
Cirkelverksamheten våren 1945. Yrkeskvinnors klubb, Göteborg. (Circle activities spring 1945. Professional Women’s Club, Gothenburg.)
Yrkeskvinnors Klubb i Göteborg 10 år: 1937-1947. Kallelse till årsmöte 19 maj 1947. Tal av ombudsmannen Fru Alva Myrdal. (Professional Women’s Club in Gothenburg 10 years old. 1937-1947. Notice of annual general meeting 19 May 1947. Speech by the ombudsman Mrs Alva Myrdal.)
Vad skall jag bli? Föredragsserie i Göteborg. 1937. (What am I going to become? Lecture series in Gothenburg. 1937.)

The part-time question

Deltidsarbete - en alltid aktuell fråga, i Folkpress, 3 november 1959.
Vinge, Margit, Halvtidstjänstgöring för gift kvinna, u.å.
Vinge, Margit, Deltid - för och emot : om ett dagsaktuellt ämne, i Hertha, 1946:12, s. 237-238.
Vinge, Margit, Deltidsarbete - ett arbetsmarknadsproblem, i Vi tjänstemän, 1946:3, s. 10-11
Delade meningar om deltiden, i Vi tjänstemän, 1946:4, s. 4-6.

Letters
Brev till Redaktör Barbro Alving, Dagens Nyheter. 12/9 1948.
Brev till Riksdagsledamoten Fröken Kerstin Hesselgren. 14/3 1949.

International
Norges Yrkeskvinnors Landsforbund. (The National Federation of Professional Women in Norway.)
International Federation of Business & Professional Women - The international organisation to which the National Federation of Professional Women is affiliated. 1936.
International Federation of Business and Professional Women. Seventh annual meeting, Stockholm, Sweden, June 15-18, 1937.
International Federation of Business and Professional Women. Social Programme for the Fifth Board Meeting, Stockholm, Sweden, June 15-18, 1937.
Program vid Kvinnoföreningarnas stormöte i Stockholm den 13, 14 och 15 april 1945. Kvinnoorganisationernas utskott för mellanfolkliga frågor. Mötet öppnas av Kerstin Hesselgren. . (Programme for the General Assembly of Women’s Associations in Stockholm. 13, 14, and 15 April 1945. The Women’s Organisations’ Committee for international issues. The meeting will be opened by Kerstin Hesselgren.)

Further reading
Förteckning över Yrkeskvinnors Klubb i Göteborg arkiv
Business and Professional Women Sweden

Social Workers in Industry and Business, SAIA

The society called Socialarbetare inom industri och affärsvärld [Social workers in industry and business], SAIA, SAIA, was established in 1921. Its purpose was to assemble the then about twenty personnel advisors working in factories, industry and business companies. The first personnel advisor was appointed on the initiative of labour inspector Kerstin Hesselgren. From the foundation onwards, this society strove, together with the labour inspection, to make employers appoint personnel advisors, encouraging further education, with the same courses for personnel advisors and supervisors. Among subjects treated there were management, industrial psychology, and industrial hygiene.
Socialinstitutet [Social Institute], providing education, e.g., for labour inspectors, was also established in 1921. Originally there was no special education for personnel advisors. As a consequence, SAIA shouldered a crucial responsibility for the advisors’ basic and continuing education.
During the Second World War, personnel advisors grew in number at workplaces and SAIA began to bring them together for annual seminars. In addition, joint conferences were organised for employees, supervisors and employers.
Studiedagarna vid Socialinstitutet 8-11 oktober 1942. (Study days at the Social Institute, 8-11 October 1942.)
Redogörelse för personalkonsulenternas konferensdagar i Stockholm den 8-11 okt. 1942. (Account of the conference days for personnel consultants in Stockholm 8-11 Oct. 1942.)
Årsmöte och studiedagar den 6-10 sept. 1947 i Västerås. (Annual general meeting and study days, 6-10 Sept. 1947 in Västerås.)
Konferens över ämnet Hur i praktiken genomföra samverkan på arbetsplatsen? Ljungskile Folkhögskola den 21-23 augusti 1950. (Conference on the subject How can we implement cooperation in the work place in practice?)
Årsmöte och interna studiedagar den 23-25 augusti 1950 på Ljungskile Folkhögskola. (Annual general meeting and internal study days, 23-25 August 1950 at Ljungskile Folkhögskola.)

Further reading
CSA - ett tidigt kvinnoinitiativ. Historik över Centralförbundet för Socialt Arbete och dess pionjärer, bl.a. Gerda Meyerson, Kerstin Hesselgren och Agda Montelius.
Hallberg, Therese, Målargården, Anna, Personalarbetets utveckling : en historisk genomgång i Sverige från början av 1900-talet och framåt. - Uppsala : Pedagogiska institutionen. - 2006. - C-uppsats.