Is it true that the practice of the “Swedish family” is widespread in Sweden?

The term “Swedish family” is known in the Russian-speaking environment as a common noun for group marriage. According to popular belief, many families in Sweden consist of three or more partners. We checked whether this practice is really common in this Scandinavian country.

The concept of "Swedish family" in the meaning of group marriage can often be found in Media, blogs And social networks. Moreover mentions this term in Russian-language journalism can be find as far back as the 1980s–1990s. Wikipedia has a separate article, dedicated to the “Swedish family”. From popular usage this phrase has penetrated into Russian scientific literature.

The phrase "Swedish family" is usually used to refer to group marriagewhen three or more adults enter into a union at the same time. It is worth noting that in English the term “Swedish family” does not in any way refer to non-traditional families, but only means “a family from Sweden.” And the Swedes themselves don't suspect about the existence of such a term in relation to group marriage.

The history of the origin of the concept of “Swedish family” is not known for certain. According to some sources, this term appeared in the everyday life of residents of the USSR in the mid-1970s–1980s. Konstantin Ivanov, author of the book “Nine Myths about Sweden”, suggested, that the emergence of the term is connected with stories that reached the USSR about representatives of left-wing Swedish youth living together in so-called communes. At the same time, underground Swedish magazines and films of free content began to reach the USSR, which gave rise to the popular opinion that the Swedes were especially emancipated.

Why exactly the Swedes, since the liberalization of society occurred in almost all democratic Western countries in the 1960s and 1970s? Perhaps this is because in the early 1970s the Swedish government formed a special government committee to develop new rules and laws for the pornography industry. The old legislation in this area was considered too puritanical. In 1971, Sweden fully legalized and deregulated pornographic content. Stockholm has gained a reputation as the capital of liberated views, attracting thousands of tourists. For nearly a decade - until restrictions returned in the 1980s - the pornography industry was part of Sweden's mainstream economy. Films and magazines were produced there completely legally, which probably amazed the minds of Soviet citizens. It is possible that Swedish groups ABBA And Army of Lovers, which gained popularity around the same period, also contributed to the reinforcement of the stereotype. The composition of the groups (two men and two women in ABBA; two men and one woman in Army of Lovers) exactly fit the Soviet definition of a “Swedish family”. Provocative promotional posters and relaxed behavior of the band members reinforced the myth of the unbridled Swedes, especially in comparison with the conservative Soviet officialdom. Russian media still often called ABBA "musical Swedish family".

However, in the 1980s, Sweden's liberal legislation gradually it was becoming more conservative due to increased protests from various social and political groups. When it comes to family, Swedish society today adheres to quite traditional views. “Swedish families” are not common or legal in Sweden. According to statistics, the average Swedish family consists of a mother, father and two children.

Thus, the concept of a “Swedish family” is nothing more than a myth born in the USSR, perhaps thanks to Soviet propaganda about the moral decay of Western society. In reality, it turns out that Swedes are not familiar with the term “Swedish family” in Russian usage and overwhelmingly prefer traditional family unions.

Cover image: ABBA group.

Misconception

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Meduza. So that's what you are, a Swedish family!
2. "Kommersant". Swedish common nouns
3. Is it true that after the revolution the Bolsheviks tried to socialize women?