Anna Johansson-Visborg
Anna Johansson-Visborg (1876 – 1953), was a Swedish trade union worker, women's rights activist and politician (social democrat).
Life and career
She was born to the farmer Johan Larsson and Sofia Johansdotter, and married in 1919 to Sven Visborg. She worked as a domestic servant in Gothenburg in 1893-97 and a brewery worker in Stockholm in 1897-1904, and an office clerk at an insurance company in 1904-18. Active as a real estate investor and owner of several cinemas from 1914, the became wealthy.
Anna Johansson-Visborg was chairperson in the Swedish industrial brewery workers union in 1904-1953; chairperson of the cooperative women's association in 1907-1938; chairperson of the Stockholm central worker's unions women's branch in 1911-1953; member of the Stockholm city council in 1916-1950; member of the board of the Social democratic women in 1920-1924; member of the board of the Stockholm Municipality in 1929-1933.
She was also a leading force in the Social democratic women suffrage movement, which was driven by the social democratic women alongside the National Association for Women's Suffrage, but which did not have a separate organisation. As a politician and activist, she always worked to abolish every legislation opposite to gender equality.
Anna Johansson-Visborg was described as brusque, energetic and with a great administrative talent: her lack of diplomacy somewhat damaged her politician career, but she was also appreciated for it, and referred to by her followers as "Brewer-Anna".
Award
She was given the Illis Quorum in 1945.