The Gender Equality Debate and The Kvinnofrid Law (1960- )
Sweden has had an active debate on gender equality since the 1960s, and this has resulted in a number of institutional structures such as the Ministry of Equal Status (1976) and the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman(1980). A gendered recommendation on rape by a state commission on sexual offences in 1976 evoked a remarkable consensus within both the women’s movement and the parliamentary women’s groups that eventually led to the demand for further inquiries including yet another prostitution commission. The resulting inquiry in 1981 was very controversial (internally and externally), concluding that prostitution was not a question of gender equality. Interestingly they found that prostitution was declining and recommended that criminalisation would merely drive it underground and worsen stigmatisation. Some attempt was made to distinguish between voluntary and involuntary prostitution. Amongst those opposing criminalisation were the police, judiciary and Ombudsman, gay rights groups and the Swedish Association for Sex Education (RSFU). Most of the women’s political groups except the conservatives, and the battered women’s shelter supported criminalising the client. The resultant bill (1982) only dealt with pornography but provided some funding for research on prostitution. However the rhetoric was clear, prostitution was still a social evil, and incompatible with equality, and should be fought.
Between 1983 and 1993 (particularly 1984–1987 and 1990–1992) some 50 bills were presented dealing with prostitution, many of which included the criminalisation of purchase, and there was a major lobby within and without the Riksdag from women’s movements and calls for more commissions. A further commission was instigated in 1993 under a former Ombudsman. One bill from women parliamentarians at the time demanded immediate criminalisation of clients, believing there was sufficient ‘evidence’ and that a further commission was not required.
1995 saw both the reports of this commission (SOU 1995: 15) and also one on violence against women and rape (SOU 1995: 60). The latter met the women’s objectives, the former however proposed criminalising both parties to an exchange in prostitution, including both hetero and homosexual prostitution. In the ensuing public debate there was talk of a historic reversal of patriarchy and of the need to avoid further victimising the victims (women). There was virtually no support for the commission’s recommendations in the ensuing consultation process, most commentators opposing any criminalisation. Bills from women parliamentarians criminalising clients continued to be presented and the Government was criticised for inaction.
Read more about this topic: Prostitution In Sweden
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