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The Nordic model of marriage

Melby, Kari ; Pylkkanen, Anu ; Rosenbeck, Bente LU and Wetterberg, Christina Carlsson (2006) In Women's History Review 15(4). p.651-661
Abstract
Between 1909 and 1929, the Marriage Acts were thoroughly reformed in all Nordic countries. These laws enhanced women's individual rights and ended a husband's legal power over his wife. Gender equality-though admittedly based on gender difference-emerged earlier in the Nordic countries than elsewhere in Europe. Secondly, the formation of marriage was reformed. Relationships by blood and marriage were no longer marriage impediments to the same degree as formerly. On the other hand, the minimum age of marriage for women was raised and new medical impediments were introduced. Thirdly, divorce was liberalised and no-fault divorce was accepted, decades before European nations such as Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany. It is thus... (More)
Between 1909 and 1929, the Marriage Acts were thoroughly reformed in all Nordic countries. These laws enhanced women's individual rights and ended a husband's legal power over his wife. Gender equality-though admittedly based on gender difference-emerged earlier in the Nordic countries than elsewhere in Europe. Secondly, the formation of marriage was reformed. Relationships by blood and marriage were no longer marriage impediments to the same degree as formerly. On the other hand, the minimum age of marriage for women was raised and new medical impediments were introduced. Thirdly, divorce was liberalised and no-fault divorce was accepted, decades before European nations such as Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany. It is thus justified to talk about the Nordic Model of Marriage. The article focuses on the characteristics of the legislation and of the reform process itself, which included lawyers and politicians, as well as women activists and physicians. It discusses why the Nordic countries took an early lead in adopting marriage law reforms. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Women's History Review
volume
15
issue
4
pages
651 - 661
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • wos:000241118800014
  • scopus:34347299548
ISSN
0961-2025
DOI
10.1080/09612020500530851
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bfad0e37-25ef-4ea4-ab13-aa7681bd6520 (old id 685942)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:40:41
date last changed
2025-01-05 08:31:52
@article{bfad0e37-25ef-4ea4-ab13-aa7681bd6520,
  abstract     = {{Between 1909 and 1929, the Marriage Acts were thoroughly reformed in all Nordic countries. These laws enhanced women's individual rights and ended a husband's legal power over his wife. Gender equality-though admittedly based on gender difference-emerged earlier in the Nordic countries than elsewhere in Europe. Secondly, the formation of marriage was reformed. Relationships by blood and marriage were no longer marriage impediments to the same degree as formerly. On the other hand, the minimum age of marriage for women was raised and new medical impediments were introduced. Thirdly, divorce was liberalised and no-fault divorce was accepted, decades before European nations such as Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany. It is thus justified to talk about the Nordic Model of Marriage. The article focuses on the characteristics of the legislation and of the reform process itself, which included lawyers and politicians, as well as women activists and physicians. It discusses why the Nordic countries took an early lead in adopting marriage law reforms.}},
  author       = {{Melby, Kari and Pylkkanen, Anu and Rosenbeck, Bente and Wetterberg, Christina Carlsson}},
  issn         = {{0961-2025}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{651--661}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Women's History Review}},
  title        = {{The Nordic model of marriage}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09612020500530851}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09612020500530851}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}