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.