Sexism in Sweden

"Dragon Tattoo" takes place in Sweden. In 2010, Amnesty International and the European Union produced a report called "Case Closed" that identifies troubling statistics about sexual crimes in Europe. The first lines state, "Sexual violence against women and girls is a worldwide phenomenon. There are no countries where women live free of the threat of such violence and no class or group of women is exempt from its destructive effects." According to "Case Closed," Sweden is the rape capital of Europe; reports there are twice the rate of the United Kingdom, and four times the rate of Germany and France. What accounts for these sickening numbers? "Case Closed" suggests that they are due to a deeply ingrained foundation of sexism in Sweden, what the report calls "discriminatory attitudes about male and female sexuality."

Types of Sexism

Perhaps the most basic form of sexism is what has been labeled "Old-Fashioned Sexism" by psychologist Janet Swim. Old-Fashioned Sexism is the blatant sexism of previous generations, when people believed in traditional gender roles (e.g., the man should be the sole breadwinner, the woman the child caretaker), different treatment (e.g., men should make higher salaries), and have gender stereotypes (e.g., men are simply more intelligent).  While this form of sexism certainly still exists, Swim points out that in modern times, forms of sexism may be less straightforward.

More recently, Susan Fiske and Peter Glick have suggested two additional forms of sexism. The first is perhaps the most clandestine. "Benevolent Sexism," is the notion that women are, in fact, more pure and moral than men. They are delicate princesses who deserve to be treated as such; they should be adored and adorned. On the surface, Benevolent Sexism seems to idealize and compliment women; what's wrong with thinking that women are superior? The problem with this form of sexism is that it only allows women to be "superior" in limited, stereotypical ways, such as being "pretty" and "soft." It suggests that women are weak creatures who need protection, and they certainly aren't suited for any type of leadership role. And of course, it states that men are "inferior"--which is still sexist.

Another form, "Hostile Sexism," states that women are trying to take control, and that they'll do whatever it takes to accomplish this task. Women are all radical feminists who want to crush men and take over the world, often by using a teasing form of sexuality. Women, Hostile Sexists believe, are whores. Hostile Sexism is the most dangerous form, because it leads to violence. When men believe that women are out to take over, they will be on the defensive. Some will do everything in their power to "re-establish" dominance and power, from beating their wives, girlfriends, or female strangers, to raping, or ultimately to murder.

Hostile Sexism in "Dragon Tattoo"

Lisbeth Salander's world has been full of men with extremely high amounts of Hostile Sexism. The first man who exemplifies Hostile Sexism is Salander's legal guardian, Nils Bjurman. In one of their "guardian" meetings, when he's supposed to be asking about her job, finances, and professional life, he quickly turns the conversation into one about her personal sexual life. When she initially refuses to answer his questions, she sees that his conclusion is that she is mentally retarded--a label supporting her weaknesses and therefore supporting her inability to be an independent, mature adult. Bjurman asks these questions to confirm that she is, as he believes, a "whore" whom he can exploit to his own liking. Specifically, his liking includes dominating her and violently raping and strangling her, almost to the point of death. His sadistic pleasure in overpowering her is clear. Being dominant over another human being is sexually exciting for extreme Hostile Sexists. In addition to Bjurman, the mystery being solved throughout the entire movie is also directly linked to Hostile Sexism--but I don't want to give everything away to people who haven't seen it yet. And when you eventually watch or read the rest of the trilogy, you'll encounter a seemingly never-ending list of other Hostile Sexists who have abused Salander, including her own father.

Is Lisbeth Salander the Most Sexist of All?

Superficially, Salander is a display of how she has internalized sexist hatred and become raw to the world. Her reaction to sexist men has been to withdraw from all social conventions and social interactions. She's covered in tattoos and piercings, and she wears clothes specifically chosen to deter people from talking to her or even making eye contact. The question thus becomes: Has Salander become what she hates? Has she become a person who immediately judges others and finds them beneath her? Is she a Hostile Sexist herself, but against men?

It is certainly the case that women might hold Hostile Sexist beliefs against men that are just as damaging as their counterparts against women. It's clear that many of Lisbeth's decisions are based simply on making the point that she does not trust anyone, especially men. She assumes that all men are going to abuse her in some way. Salander's assumptions that men are all alike--that they are all untrustworthy sexual demons looking for an opportunity to abuse her--is unquestionably Hostile Sexism. She commits crimes related to Hostile Sexism as well, forcing guardian Bjurman to accept a tattoo on his chest labeling him as a "sexist" and "pervert," blackmailing people, hacking into their personal affairs, and even planning to murder them if necessary. Is Salander just as bad as all the men in her life?

While Salander is definitely guilty of being a Hostile Sexist, the answer must be no. There are two saving graces that make Salander different from the other Hostile Sexist characters in her life. First, she only resorts to acting against men when she must do so in self-defense. Salander's primary reaction is to leave people alone and hope they do the same. She is relatively antisocial, and is never proactive in seeking ways to hurt other people. Second, while Salander might initially assume that all men are untrustworthy, perverted idiots, she does actually give them a chance to prove her wrong. She allows Mikael Blomkvist to enter her life as a trusted friend and lover. Originally on guard against him, Salander realizes that he is magnanimous and--even more importantly to her--that he is respectful of her choices and intelligence.

She is willing to consider each man as an independent entity, and she is willing to respect (and perhaps even love) a man who respects and loves her in return. This essential trait in her personality is what allows Salander to step away from the line-up of other Hostile Sexists and become a sympathetic and relatable person. This ability for her to love another person is what makes us able to love her. Salander becomes the hero of the story because we can all empathize with the damaging effects of being a lifelong victim of personal atrocity. It's understandable that she has no trust in men, because the vast majority of men have been abusive and sadistic to her. In fact, her very ability to realize that all men are not alike is remarkable, considering her uniquely shattered childhood and her continuing abuse as an adult. Her resilience when surrounded by Hostile Sexism is what makes us cheer her on, and hope for a better future.

For more information about this topic, check out Dr. Goodfriend's book chapter in the volume The Psychology of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, published in December 2011 by BenBella Books.

Copyright Wind Goodfriend, Ph.D.