Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Active Measures for LGBTQ Inclusion in Sweden: Progress or Persistent Ignorance?

Lundberg, Tove LU orcid ; Wurm, Matilda ; Mejias Nihlén, Theodor and Malmquist, Anna (2026) In Series in Sociology p.95-110
Abstract (Swedish)
Sweden is often regarded as one of the most progressive countries in terms of
legislation and policies protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and
queer (LGBTQ) people. Such measures aim to promote wellbeing among
LGBTQ individuals, who generally report more negative experiences compared
to heterosexual cisgender people. Swedish legislation requires employers to
take active measures to prevent discrimination, which can be understood as an
attempt to strengthen social resilience. However, little is known about how
these measures function in practice. This chapter presents findings from a
mixed-methods study examining workplace experiences of LGBTQ employees
and managers’... (More)
Sweden is often regarded as one of the most progressive countries in terms of
legislation and policies protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and
queer (LGBTQ) people. Such measures aim to promote wellbeing among
LGBTQ individuals, who generally report more negative experiences compared
to heterosexual cisgender people. Swedish legislation requires employers to
take active measures to prevent discrimination, which can be understood as an
attempt to strengthen social resilience. However, little is known about how
these measures function in practice. This chapter presents findings from a
mixed-methods study examining workplace experiences of LGBTQ employees
and managers’ perspectives on implementing active measures. Quantitative
analyses show no significant differences between LGBTQ and cisgender
participants regarding explicit discrimination, harassment, or abuse at work,
an encouraging result that underscores the importance of the Discrimination
Act. However, LGBTQ participants reported higher exposure to more elusive
risks and barriers, including incivility, hetero- and cisnormative interactions,
and microaggressions such as hearing negative jokes about LGBTQ people.
Qualitative analyses reveal that while many managers report having policies,
training, and routines in place, uncertainty about how to translate legislation
into practice persists. This ambiguity fosters different interpretative repertoires: an “individualistic” approach that risks placing responsibility on
individuals versus a “systemic” approach emphasizing shared responsibility—
more aligned with the Act’s intent. The chapter concludes that enabling social
resilience requires moving beyond formal compliance toward everyday
practices that challenge normative structures and foster genuine inclusion. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
LGBTQ, minority stress, microaggressions, workplace, active measures, Sweden, resilience
host publication
Social Resilience : Critical Responses to Challenges and Change - Critical Responses to Challenges and Change
series title
Series in Sociology
editor
Kauko, Sara ; Nordbeck, Patric C. and Qamar, Azher H.
pages
95 - 110
publisher
Vernon Press
ISBN
979-8-8819-0443-2
project
Minoritetsstress på jobbet: Arbetsplatsen som lindrande eller hindrande för hbtqi-personers psykiska hälsa och välmående
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f8ed9e10-801f-47cc-83e5-84536c3b12a7
date added to LUP
2026-05-20 12:18:24
date last changed
2026-05-27 11:39:33
@inbook{f8ed9e10-801f-47cc-83e5-84536c3b12a7,
  abstract     = {{Sweden is often regarded as one of the most progressive countries in terms of <br/>legislation and policies protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and <br/>queer (LGBTQ) people. Such measures aim to promote wellbeing among <br/>LGBTQ individuals, who generally report more negative experiences compared <br/>to heterosexual cisgender people. Swedish legislation requires employers to <br/>take active measures to prevent discrimination, which can be understood as an <br/>attempt to strengthen social resilience. However, little is known about how <br/>these measures function in practice. This chapter presents findings from a <br/>mixed-methods study examining workplace experiences of LGBTQ employees <br/>and managers’ perspectives on implementing active measures. Quantitative <br/>analyses show no significant differences between LGBTQ and cisgender <br/>participants regarding explicit discrimination, harassment, or abuse at work, <br/>an encouraging result that underscores the importance of the Discrimination <br/>Act. However, LGBTQ participants reported higher exposure to more elusive <br/>risks and barriers, including incivility, hetero- and cisnormative interactions, <br/>and microaggressions such as hearing negative jokes about LGBTQ people. <br/>Qualitative analyses reveal that while many managers report having policies, <br/>training, and routines in place, uncertainty about how to translate legislation <br/>into practice persists. This ambiguity fosters different interpretative repertoires: an “individualistic” approach that risks placing responsibility on <br/>individuals versus a “systemic” approach emphasizing shared responsibility—<br/>more aligned with the Act’s intent. The chapter concludes that enabling social <br/>resilience requires moving beyond formal compliance toward everyday <br/>practices that challenge normative structures and foster genuine inclusion.}},
  author       = {{Lundberg, Tove and Wurm, Matilda and Mejias Nihlén, Theodor and Malmquist, Anna}},
  booktitle    = {{Social Resilience : Critical Responses to Challenges and Change}},
  editor       = {{Kauko, Sara and Nordbeck, Patric C. and Qamar, Azher H.}},
  isbn         = {{979-8-8819-0443-2}},
  keywords     = {{LGBTQ; minority stress; microaggressions; workplace; active measures; Sweden; resilience}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{95--110}},
  publisher    = {{Vernon Press}},
  series       = {{Series in Sociology}},
  title        = {{Active Measures for LGBTQ Inclusion in Sweden: Progress or Persistent Ignorance?}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}