>>518528623 (OP)
Legal Status of Women in Sweden
In Alfred Nobel’s time (mid-19th century):
Unmarried women were considered legal minors under male guardianship (father, brother, or appointed guardian) until 1858. After 1858, they could apply for legal majority at age 25. By 1863, all unmarried women automatically gained legal majority at 25, later lowered to 21. Married women were legally subordinate to their husbands, who controlled property, finances, and decisions. Women could not sign contracts or manage wealth independently once married. Reforms in the 1840s–1870s gradually allowed unmarried women to inherit, own, and control property, but married women’s property was still managed by husbands until the late 19th century. Women were excluded from most higher education, with universities admitting them only from the 1870s onward. They had no right to vote or hold public office, though wealthy women taxpayers briefly gained limited municipal voting rights. Employment was restricted: some professions like teaching and midwifery were open, but law, medicine, and government were closed. Women often needed male permission for work or business.
Today (21st century Sweden):
Men and women have equal legal majority at 18, with no guardianship based on sex. Marriage law grants full equality between spouses, with no subordination; same-sex marriage has been legal since 2009. Property, inheritance, and contract rights are equal regardless of gender. Women have equal access to all levels of education and today often outnumber men in universities. Political rights are universal: since 1921 women can vote and hold office, and now make up nearly half of parliament. Employment laws prohibit discrimination, guaranteeing equal access to professions, while generous parental leave policies support gender equality at home and work. The constitution and Equality Act explicitly prohibit gender discrimination.
