Alva Myrdal (1902-1986) was most known for her groundbreaking work in negotiating for nuclear disarmament, but she also tried to build new ways for women to achieve equity in the economy.
Alva Myrdal (1902-1986) was most known for her groundbreaking work in negotiating for nuclear disarmament, but she also tried to build new ways for women to achieve equity in the economy.
Women’s contributions to peacekeeping efforts are often overlooked, but no more. This month on Womanica we're highlighting women who have spearheaded peacekeeping initiatives all over the world — from India to South Africa to the United States. We cover women like Doria Shafik who led Egypt’s female liberation movement, as well as Coretta Scott King who was a fierce advocate for equality for Black Americans and a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Tune in to hear the stories of women who were integral to creating peace in their communities.
History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Ale Tejeda, Sara Schleede, and Alex Jhamb Burns. Special thanks to Shira Atkins.
Original theme music composed by Miles Moran.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Meltem Burak. I’m the host and producer of the podcast, Sesta. We aim to harness the power of arts and culture to foster conversation and build peace in Cyprus. I’ll be your guest host for this month of Womanica.
This month, we’re highlighting Peacebuilders: In times of conflict, these women have stepped in, bringing their creativity and insight to help facilitate peace across the globe.
Today, we’re talking about a woman who tried to build new ways for women to achieve equity in the economy. But what she was most well-known for was her groundbreaking work in negotiating for nuclear disarmament.
Let’s talk about Alva Myrdal.
Alva Reimer Myrdal was born on January 31, 1902 in Uppsala, Sweden. Alva was the first of five children in a family that valued education.
When she was growing up in Sweden, women didn’t have the same access to education as their male counterparts. But Alva was persistent. She wasn’t allowed to check-out books from the library, so she would stay and read them there. Alva also sold handicrafts so she could buy her own books. Eventually Alva’s father advocated for Alva and several of her female peers so they could obtain certificates from the local high school. From there, Alva studied for her Bachelor’s degree in Stockholm. Around the same time, when she was 17 years old, she met a man who became hugely influential on her life – Gunnar Myrdal.
When the couple married in 1924, Alva had just graduated from university, and Gunnar had just earned his law degree. Gunnar went on to complete a doctorate in economics several years later. The couple were not only in love, but they also shared a passion for intellectual curiosity.
In 1929, Gunnar accepted an opportunity to continue his research in the U.S., and Alva joined him. In the U.S. Alva studied social psychology and sociology, which also related to her husband’s research. During their year abroad, they began working on a book that would be published several years later.
Much of Alva and Gunnar’s research was groundbreaking, and in support of the idea of a welfare state. However, they also espoused views that many today find cruel, ableist, and discriminatory. In their co-authored book titled “Crisis in the population question,” they advocated for the forced sterilization of a subsection of society they referred to as the “feeble-minded.”
In the 1930s, Alva and her husband returned to Sweden. There, she focused her attention on gender and family policies as they related to the state. Alva worked with architect Sven Markelius to develop a prototype for a collective housing unit. The goal was to liberate women from their daily household labor, and allow them to contribute to the economy. Instead of each woman in her own apartment making meatballs, taking care of the kids – there was a central kitchen where women could order their meals, and housework and childcare were also handled by the collective. Alva ran a training institute for nursery and kindergarten instructors, which she saw as another opportunity to socialize children while allowing women to earn wages.
When World War II broke out, in spite of Sweden’s neutrality, Alva got involved in aid organizations. In 1943, she was appointed to the Government Commission on International Post-War Aid and Reconstruction.
Alva continued to expand her international work. In 1949, she headed the United Nations Department of Social Welfare. The following year, she became the chairperson of social sciences at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. A few years later she was appointed to the position of Swedish ambassador to India. At this point, it’s hard to believe there was more she could do – but Alva was only getting started.
As the Cold War brewed between the United States and the Soviet Union, Alva got more involved in nuclear disarmament. The two countries were in competition to have superior nuclear arms. And the whole world was concerned that the tension could grow into actually using those weapons.
Alva saw the arms race as antithetical to peace and progress. In 1962 she became Sweden’s representative to the Geneva disarmament conference. In negotiation conversations, she led the non-aligned nations in bringing pressure upon the super powers to display and enact greater disarmament measures.
In the mid-1970s, Alva wrote a book about the Cold War arms race, and the disarmament movement. She also helped to found a think tank called the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The organization is still around today – and they’re still fighting for peace around the world.
In 1982, Alva was the co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her nuclear disarmament work. In her acceptance speech she said, “All mankind is now learning that these nuclear weapons can only serve to destroy, never become beneficial. And thus we can hope that men will understand that the interests of all are the same, that hope lies in cooperation. We can then perhaps keep peace.”
When Alva won the Nobel Prize, she and Gunnar became the first couple to each win the prize in different fields.
In 1986, Alva died in Stockholm – just one day after her 84th birthday.
All month, we’re talking about peacebuilders. For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram @womanicapodcast.
Special thanks to co-creators Jenny and Liz Kaplan, for having me as a guest host.
Talk to you tomorrow!