Fru Lojal i krigets skugga : Svenska Lottakårens självbild, identitet och förståelse under beredskapsåren 1940-1945

Sammanfattning

This bachelor's thesis examines how the Swedish Lottamovement (Svenska Lottakåren) constructed and negotiated its self-image and identity during the Swedish military preparedness of 1940–1945. The purpose of the study is to illuminate the ideals and norms mobilized to legitimize women's place in the Swedish total defence during a period characterized by external threats and military mobilization. The study is based on a qualitative text analysis of annual meeting speeches delivered by the organization´s national chef, Maja Schmidt, during the relevant period. The theoretical framework rests on a gender-historical perspective, with specific focus on Johanna Overud's concept of “Fru Lojal” and Yvonne Hirdman's gender system, with elements of Joshua Goldstein's theories on the gendered division of war. By analyzing the rhetoric within the speeches, the study identifies how the organization managed the tension between modern military tasks and traditional female ideals. The results indicate that the identity of Lottakåren was constructed through a paradoxical balancing act. To gain legitimacy within the male-dominated military sphere, traditional virtues such as care, self-sacrifice, and the “duty of the heart” were emphasized. The analysis highlights four central themes: the construction of a self-image based on voluntary subordination, the use of discipline to instill mental security within civil society, the Nordic sisterhood with Finland serving as a moral benchmark, and a shift from improvisation to formalized professionalization. The conclusion is that Lottakåren formed a collective identity akin to “Fru Lojal”: a resource that was modern in function but traditional in loyalty, enabling the integration of women into the defense establishment without challenging the prevailing gender order.