Agency and spirituality: women´s contribution to the formation of modernity in Sweden

The purpose and aims of the project are to contribute with deeper knowledge about the role of religion and spirituality for women’s agency in the formation of modernity in Sweden.The following research questions guide the analysis in the project: Year 1: How are religious and spiritual ideas expressed in women´s writing and correspondence, and how do they enable and structure their public engagement in early 20th Swedish society?; How do women’s ideas connect with, negotiate, and contribute to larger public debates in Church and society?

Year 2: What new insights can the combination of historical, sociological, and theological perspectives bring to research on women’s agency in the formation of modernity in Sweden?The empirical material consists of publications and correspondence of 85 women during the time period 1915-1925. Narrative analysis in combination with feminist theories on agency, alternative publics and theology will be used.

Through a collective biography common themes and variations in the women’s contributions will be highlighted.

The result will be published in two articles and a monograph, and communicated to the public through a conference and an exhibition at the Sigtuna Foundation.

The project will contribute with new knowledge about religion and spirituality as an incentive for women’s agency during a significant period of the formation of Swedish modernity, and new insights for understanding the complex interplay between religion, gender and modernity.