Constructions of Class in Swedish Women’s Magazines

• The aim of my paper is to present some examples from my research about how class was constructed linguistically in Svensk Damtidning (Swedish Woman’s Magazine) at the beginning of the 20th century, to display the discourses that governed people’s notions of themselves and others, and the violent disagreements over different representations. By way of conclusion I argue that is fruitful to abandon the great narrative of the working class's rise and probable fall, not only because 'the working class' never existed other than as a figure of speech – although one that certainly governed people’s self-image and thus found material expression in the real world – but also because this figure of speech was far from alone in its own presumed heyday. Thus, with a greater knowledge of the genealogy of the term 'class', in its broadest historical sense class is still relevant: as a designation with origin far back in the 18th century.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Historia (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- History (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

class

gender

popular culture

women's magazines

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)