Eva Lundgren

Not to be confused with 1980s beauty pageant contestant Eva-Lena Lundgren or the feminist scholar Eva Lundgren-Gothlin.
Eva Lundgren
Born (1947-11-24) 24 November 1947
Norway Flekkefjord
Nationality Norwegian
Fields Theology, sociology, women's studies
Institutions Uppsala University (1989-2011), New York University (1996-1997)
Alma mater University of Bergen
Known for process of normalisation theory

Eva Lundgren (born November 24, 1947) is a Norwegian-born Swedish feminist scholar and sociologist, focusing on violence against women and religiously motivated violence. She is Professor Emerita of sociology at Uppsala University.

Lundgren is known for developing the theory of the process of normalization of violence, according to which, abused women gradually adopt the perspective of their abusers.[1] Lundgren has written several books on violence, sexuality and religion.[2] She held a government-appointed chair of sociology at Uppsala University 1993–2011, to study "the relation between power and gender in family and society, particularly in regard to men's violence against women", and has been a Visiting Professor at several universities, including New York University. She has been an influential figure in Swedish feminism since the 1980s.

Career

A native of Flekkefjord, she started her career as a model and studied at the University of Bergen, where she earned her (6-year) Candidate's degree in Theology in 1978 and her doctoral degree in 1985. She was first employed as a Research Fellow at the University of Bergen, and was appointed an Associate Professor in 1986. She was head of the Department of Gender Studies at the University of Bergen 1987-1988, and was found to be competent as a full professor in 1988. In 1989, she was appointed a Docent (Reader) in Theology at Uppsala University, relocating to Stockholm.

In 1993, she was appointed Professor of Sociology at Uppsala University by the government of Sweden, to study the "relation between power and gender in family and society, in particular men's violence against women". She was installed as a Professor with a military parade and gave her inaugural lecture on eroticised power in Uppsala Cathedral. She was a Visiting Professor at New York University from 1996 to 1997, and has also held visiting professorships at the University of North London, the University of Bradford and Åbo Akademi University. In 2003, Lundgren became head of department for the newly created Department of Gender Studies (Samgenus) at Uppsala University.

Work

Normalisation process

Theoretically, Lundgren has focused on developing the concept of the process of normalisation, a model to explain how battered women gradually break down and accept the violent situation. Lundgren has also argued that men who systematically use sexualised violence against their partner do so in order to consolidate their position of power, rather than to satisfy a sexual desire.

Knutby murder

In recent years, Lundgren's research has focused on the Knutby murder. Her 2008 book The Knutby Code, published simultaneously in Swedish and Norwegian, is a critical analysis of the Knutby case.

Reception

Political influence

Lundgren's research has had considerable influence on public policy in Sweden, particularly under the social democratic governments in the 1990s and early 2000s. One of her supporters is Margareta Winberg, the former deputy PM and Minister for Gender Equality, who once described Lundgren as "cool". The 1998 Violence Against Women Act (Kvinnofridslagen) is said to be based on Lundgren's research.[3]

2005 controversy in the wake of "The Gender War"

A controversial TV documentary on radical feminism in Sweden titled The Gender War, which was aired in 2005, generated debate on Eva Lundgren's work in both Sweden and Norway. This led Uppsala University's rector Bo Sundqvist to first announce a public debate on Lundgren's research, then cancel the debate and appoint a commission consisting of political scientist Jörgen Hermansson and philosopher Margareta Hallberg to investigate Lundgren's research. The inquiry cleared her of any wrongdoing, although Hallberg and Hermansson aimed criticism at her conclusions.[4][5] However, the inquiry and the report were criticized by Uppsala University's chief lawyer Marianne Andersson, who stated that Hallberg and Hermansson's criticism of Lundgren's conclusions was inappropriate and illegal in the context of such a report, and not in their mandate, which was solely to investigate claims of wrongdoing.[6] Lundgren dismissed the criticism. 14 leading researchers in Lundgren's field of study also criticized the "unique" inquiry, stating that Hermansson and Hallberg were not competent to assess Lundgren's research.[7] The university committed itself to restoring Lundgren's reputation, granting her and her research group increased funding in compensation for having subjected her to an unjustified inquiry.[8]

2011 resignation

In 2011, Eva Lundgren resigned from her chair at Uppsala University, stating that she will concentrate on her international career in the future, and criticizing Uppsala University for not doing enough to support her. She had previously criticized the university for not honouring the agreement to restore her reputation.[9] Lundgren is writing a book on what she considers an attack on feminist scholarship in Sweden.[10]

Selected publications (in Norwegian or Swedish)

Literature

See also

References

  1. ↑ Eva Lundgren Gendering Violence - Keynotes
  2. ↑ Henriksen, Petter, ed. (2007). "Eva Lundgren". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Evangelisten Dagbladet, 20 September 2008
  4. ↑ http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=114&artikel=2156813
  5. ↑ Genusforskaren Eva Lundgren frias SVT Rapport, 15 December 2005
  6. ↑ Kritik mot rapport om Lundgren Uppsala Nya Tidning, 9 January 2009
  7. ↑ "Eva Lundgrens granskare saknar kompetens för uppgiften" Dagens Nyheter, 14 December 2005
  8. ↑ Professor Eva Lundgren får upprättelse Sveriges universitetslärarförbund, 1 December 2006
  9. ↑ Eva Lundgren kräver upprättelse Uppsala Nya Tidning, 2 September 2010
  10. ↑ Eva Lundgren säger upp sig från Uppsala universitet Göteborgs Universitet, 3 March 2011

External links

Academic offices
Preceded by
First holder of chair		 Professor of Sociology at Uppsala University
Government-appointed chair to study "the relation between power and gender in family and society, in particular men's violence against women"
1993–2011 		Succeeded by
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