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Petra Östergren´s website is a Göran Åbonde production.
English translations are made by Ulf Schyldt and Petra Östergren.
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Petra Östergren is a Swedish writer and social commentator with a Master's degree in Social Anthropology. For a number of years Petra was an instructor in Self-Defence and Martial Arts. In 1996 she wrote an article for a leading feminist magazine, questioning the dominant discourse on violence, sexuality and power. The article caused a uproar in the Women's movement. Petra found this intriguing, especially since she had been working closely with this movement during her years as a Self-Defence instructor.
Before teaching Self-Defence Petra studied Chinese and Social Anthropology at Stockholm University. It was the brutal murder of her mother in 1988 that made Petra discontiue her studies and instead focus on teaching women how to defend themselves. Petra has written books both about her mother and self-defence.
The conflict with and within the feminist movement spurred Petra to return to her academic studies. Both her Bachelor and Masters theses deal with Swedish prostitution policy. Petra also writes columns, articles and regulary gives lectures and appears in the media both in Sweden and abroad. She has just released her third book: "Porn, Whores and Feminists", (only available in Swedish) where she analyses the last 30 years of Swedish anti-porn and prostitution discourse.
Petra was born in 1965 in the northern town of Kiruna and now lives in Stockholm.
In June 2004 Petra recieved a grant from The Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation to finish her latest book.
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Petra Östergren gives lectures concerning feminism and the themes of her writing. She also gives longer workshops for groups, e.g. staff in related professions, that wish a more thorough discussion of the subjects.
Petra will adapt the contents of the lecture to suit the needs and level of the audience. Lectures can be between one and three hours. Workshops with personnel groups are best planned for a whole day.
Among Petra's clients are the department of Sexology at the University Hospital of Uppsala and the Karolinska Institutet medical academy in Stockholm, the University of Gävle school of Media, the University of Stockholm's Law school and the International Program at the same university.
She has given open lectures at the University of Malmö and the Danderyds hospital. Some of her other clients include the Swedish Red Cross, the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights and some political organisations.
Petra has had long experience of teaching. In the years that she most actively worked in self-defence, she taught thousands of women and men all over Sweden. Her clients where women's associations, women shelters, social authorities, medical boards and schools, as well as large corporations such as for example Telia, the Swedish public phone services and some commercial banks.
Petra also speaks internationally. She has given a open lecture at the University of Reykjavik and been heard by the Icelandic Parlament regarding her reserach into prostitution. She has also presented at conferences about prostitution in Rotterdam and Taiwan. For more information contact Petra directly. |
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Welcome to Petra Östergren |
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We are currently updating the website - apologies for the mess. Göran Åbonde and Petra Östergren The website
This website is a Göran Åbonde production.
English translations are made by Ulf Schyldt and Petra Östergren.
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In co-operation with Anneli Svensson, counsellor at the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights, Petra has written two booklets about violence against and among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. For more information contact RFSL: www.rfsl.se , phone: +46 8 736 02 13 English translation: Ulf Schyldt |
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