Umeå University's logo

Involvement in political youth organisations is explained in terms of social, moral-ideological,and career-driven incentives. However, previous studies have not examined women’smotivations. This single case study answers and explains why young women engage in politicalyouth organisations and which incitements drive them. The study also explains what youngwomen’s plans for a political career looks like and whether systematic patterns can be discerned.By using in-depth interviews, seven young women in the Swedish political youth party “SocialDemocratic Youth League of Sweden” (SSU), are interviewed. This analysis shows that womenare not primary driven by political career ambitions, instead social and moral-ideologicalincentives are the primary factors for their involvement. Young women perceive barriers topursuing a political career and would rather work in a “regular” profession in the future thanhave a political career.