Susanna Hedenborg

Unknown Soldiers and Very Pretty Ladies: Challenges to the Social Order of Sports in Post-War Sweden

When Sweden played host to the Equestrian competitions of the 1956 Olympics, social issues of class and gender were publicly discussed and challenged. Indeed, equestrian sports by their very nature and history drew attention to the changing social order of sports (and society at large) during the 1950s. It will be shown that there were a range of quite ambivalent responses to working class men and to women during this time in Sweden. Furthermore, it will be demonstrated that the relationship between these social issues and horse riding was challenged and revised during this time and that the 1950s can be seen as a turning point for the social order of sports. Equestrian sports provide a fascinating case study due firstly to a number of specific contextual features that will be explained, and secondly because they were among the first sports in Sweden to face challenges to traditional social structures.

Changes and variations in patterns of gender relations in equestrian sports during the second half of the twentieth century

In order to explain changes and variations in patterns of gender relations over time and space, the article analyses womens and mens participation rates in equestrian sports focusing on equestrianism in the Olympic Games 1952–2000 with an emphasis on Britain and Sweden. More men than women compete in Olympic equestrianism, although the number of female riders has increased over time and gender patterns vary within equestrianism. A majority of competitive dressage riders are women. Also, British women were involved in equestrian sports earlier than Swedish women. A comparison between Britain and Sweden provides insight into how national politics and cultural context shape gender relations. The destabilization of the societal gender order brought about by the First World War and the Second World War may have disrupted the gender order in equestrianism, creating opportunities for some female riders. Furthermore, governmental support or lack thereof is likely to have influenced female and male participation patterns.

The position and relevance of sport studies: an introduction

How can sport science be defined and demarcated, and what is to be included in and regarded as sport are frequent questions asked by sport scientists. Despite serious and worthy ambitions, it appea...

The rocker and the heroine : gendered media representations of equestrian sports at the 2012 Olympics

The purpose of this article is to analyse mediated gender relations in equestrian sports in two Swedish morning papers during the 2012 Olympic Games. The fact that men and women compete against each other in the same competitions regulated by the same rules evoked questions in this article regarding whether media reports on equestrian sports are freed from gender constructions and whether gender constructions are less visible in media reports on equestrian sports than in media reports on other sports or even dissolved altogether. The study demonstrates that the media narratives of both the female and male riders are complex and sometimes contradictory. Some narratives can be seen as (gender)norm-breaking, whereas others confirm gender stereotypes. This conclusion points to the possibility of media narratives of equestrian sports as including inclusive masculinity and femininity.

To breastfeed another woman's child: wet-nursing in Stockholm, 1777–1937

The conflict between work and taking care of infants can be solved in many ways. Less than 100 years ago, one of the solutions was the wet-nursing system. This system came to an end at the beginning of the twentieth century. Previous research has connected the cessation to decreasing demand. Here it is argued that to understand the wet-nursing system and to explain its coming to an end, the labour market for women has to be considered. It is necessary to study the supply side of the system: to discover why women became wet-nurses.

Gender and Sports within the Equine Sector – A Comparative Perspective

The aim of this article is to discuss and problematize research on gender and sports within the equine sector, and to argue for the necessity of a comparative perspective in order to understand the gender order within equestrian sports. The article will focus on two areas within the equine sector: horse racing and Olympic equestrianism. Differences over time as well as between countries and events will be highlighted and discussed. Previous research demonstrates that the equine sector has historically been connected to men and masculinity in large parts of the world, although there are many examples of women working with horses and enjoying equestrian activities during their leisure time. During the twentieth century, horses have become progressively less important for agriculture, forestry, transport, and the army. The societal context is interesting, as sport historians Jennifer Hargreaves and Gertrud Pfister have claimed that a destabilization of the gender order in society at large may open new opportunities for women in sport. It is argued in this article that an analytical framework based on insights from gender studies and a comparative perspective is crucial if the development is to be understood and explained.

Riding Instructors, Gender, Militarism, and Stable Culture in Sweden: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century

Equestrian sport underwent significant changes in Sweden during the twentieth century, from being connected to men and the army to being associated with women and leisure activities. Previous research has shown that a stable culture with masculine military norms still exists in spite of these changes. The purpose of this study is to explore why these norms continue to influence Swedish equestrian sport. Institutional economic theory and gender theory are used to explain continuity and change in stable culture. The source material consists of interviews and document analysis. An important finding is that military norms have been reproduced in the education of the riding instructors.

From Glamour to Drudgery – Changing Gender Patterns in the Equine Sector: A Comparative Study of Sweden and Great Britain in the Twentieth Century

The aim of this chapter is to analyse changing gender and social class patterns in equestrian sports in Sweden and Great Britain during the twentieth century. One hundred years ago, equestrian sports were strongly connected to men and masculinity. Men worked together with and used horses in agriculture, forestry, in the transport sector and in the army. A real man was a ‘horse man’. In Sweden horse riding was connected to the army and to the upper class. In today’s Sweden equestrianism is strongly connected to women, girls and femininity on all levels. Furthermore, the contemporary equestrian sector is of great economic importance to the Swedish economy, and horse riding is popular and not only restricted to members of the upper class. Less is known about the development in Great Britain, despite the fact that Great Britain has since long been seen as a very important place for the development of equestrian sports. In order to understand the process of changing gender codes and the growth of the sector in Sweden and to explore and understand the development in Great Britain in the twentieth century, this chapter examines articles on the equestrian competitions of the Olympic Games in 1912, 1948, 1952, 1956 and 1964 in Swedish and British magazines.

The world is full of sorrow: Infant mortality in Stockholm, 1754-1850

Abstract This article examines infant mortality in two Stockholm parishes, Storkyrkan and Katetine, in the period 1754–1850. The infant mortality rate (IMR) for different groups (linked to sex and marital status) is analysed as well as seasonal influences on the mortality, the causes of death and the exact age of the infant. During this period Stockholm stagnated both economically and demographically. Even so, some features in the pattern of infant mortality point to the fact that the treatment of infants varied between the different social classes and changed over time. It is considered that a likely explanation for these changes would include the availability of literature concerning infant care initiated by the state, changes in the literacy rate and changing attitudes towards life and death.

From giving orders to engaging in dialogue: Military norms being challenged at the Swedish riding school

Equestrian sport is one of the largest sports among young girls in Sweden. A majority of these girls get their riding education at riding schools that provide horses and instructors. Previous research has pointed out that the Swedish riding school is characterised by a traditional stable culture that originated in army practices. Presently Swedish children and youth sport at large are undergoing a change driven by increased commercialisation and individualisation. The aim of this article is therefore to explore and analyse how Swedish riding instructors perceive and experience their professional role in regards to these changes. Interviews with 10 riding instructors have been analysed using a constructivist approach of Grounded theory, as well as institutional theory and institutional economic theory. It was discovered that the riding instructors, due to an economic recession, feel that the institutional arrangements of the riding schools have become governed by the economy. The riding instructors thus feel impelled to change and adapt to new teaching styles – from instruction characterised by giving orders to teaching characterised by dialogue. This study illustrates how economic challenges require continuous development of the riding instructors’ pedagogical ability, and have made them more aware of their profession, its historical heritage and norms.