Kerstin Hesselgren
Encyclopedia
Kerstin Hesselgren was a Swedish politician.
Kerstin Hesselgren became the first woman to be elected in to the Swedish parliament after the female suffrage in 1921. She was elected by suggestion of the Liberals
with support from the Social democrats.
. She qualified as a sanitary inspector in the UK and was upon her return to Sweden sanitary inspector, school kitchen inspector and then management director of the women's work environment inspection from 1913 to 1934.
In 1921, she became one of the five first women to be elected to the Swedish Parliament after women suffrage alongside Nelly Thüring (Social Democrat), Agda Östlund
(Social Democrat) Elisabeth Tamm
(liberal) and Bertha Wellin
(Conservative) in the Lower chamber; Hesselgren was alone in the Upper chamber and thereby became the first woman in the Upper chamber. She was a liberal in 1922-23 and 1937–44 and unbound of any party in 1923-1937. She was Vice Chairman of the second legislation committee of the parliament in 1939-1944 and also in this capacity the first of her gender in Sweden. She died in Stockholm
.
Hesselgren was active within gender and social issues: she worked for the access of all political positions and equal salary
for both sexes, for the legalisation of sex education
and birth control
and to lower the punishment for abortion
. She was well known and aroused a lot of attention to these issues. Many of her ideas was inspired by her mentor, the politician Emilia Broomé
, and could be found already among the ideas of Bromée.
Kerstin Hesselgren was given Illis Quorum
in 1918.
Kerstin Hesselgren became the first woman to be elected in to the Swedish parliament after the female suffrage in 1921. She was elected by suggestion of the Liberals
Liberal Party of Sweden
The Liberal Party of Sweden was a political party in Sweden. It was formed in 1923 by the anti-prohibition minority of the Liberal Coalition Party as a consequence of the split over the issue on alcohol prohibition...
with support from the Social democrats.
Biography
Hesselgren was born at Torsåker, GästriklandGästrikland
' is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Uppland, Västmanland, Dalarna, Hälsingland and the Gulf of Bothnia. Gästrikland is the southernmost of the Norrland provinces....
. She qualified as a sanitary inspector in the UK and was upon her return to Sweden sanitary inspector, school kitchen inspector and then management director of the women's work environment inspection from 1913 to 1934.
In 1921, she became one of the five first women to be elected to the Swedish Parliament after women suffrage alongside Nelly Thüring (Social Democrat), Agda Östlund
Agda Östlund
Agda Östlund , was a Swedish seamstress and Politician of the Social Democrats. She belonged to the first women to have been elected to the Swedish parliament....
(Social Democrat) Elisabeth Tamm
Elisabeth Tamm
Elisabeth Tamm known in the parliament as Tamm i Fogelstad was a Swedish Politician and feminist....
(liberal) and Bertha Wellin
Bertha Wellin
Bertha Wellin , was a Swedish Politician and nurse. She belonged to the first women to have been elected in to the Swedish parliament....
(Conservative) in the Lower chamber; Hesselgren was alone in the Upper chamber and thereby became the first woman in the Upper chamber. She was a liberal in 1922-23 and 1937–44 and unbound of any party in 1923-1937. She was Vice Chairman of the second legislation committee of the parliament in 1939-1944 and also in this capacity the first of her gender in Sweden. She died in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
Hesselgren was active within gender and social issues: she worked for the access of all political positions and equal salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
for both sexes, for the legalisation of sex education
Sex education
Sex education refers to formal programs of instruction on a wide range of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and...
and birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
and to lower the punishment for abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. She was well known and aroused a lot of attention to these issues. Many of her ideas was inspired by her mentor, the politician Emilia Broomé
Emilia Broomé
Emilia Augusta Clementina Broomé, née Lothigius , was a Swedish politician , feminist and peace activist. She was the first woman in the Swedish legislative assembly ....
, and could be found already among the ideas of Bromée.
Kerstin Hesselgren was given Illis Quorum
Illis Quorum
Illis Quorum ["For Those Whose Labors Have Deserved It"], today the highest award that can be conferred upon an individual Swedish citizen by the Government of Sweden....
in 1918.