In recent years there has been an increased scholarly interest in the role of specialised parliamentary bodies in promoting gender equality. It has been argued that these specialized parliamentary bodies represent two main types: single portfolio or multiportfolio Standing Committees with policy remits addressing women or gender and cross-party women’s caucuses. These two bodies - committees and caucuses - take two forms: the first have a strong institutionalized role in the legislative process, while the latter functions as an informal body that provides support to female members through capacity-building and networking. This typology seems less valid pertaining to Sweden. For instance, in the Swedish parliament, there is no single portfolio Standing committee addressing gender equality; rather, all standing committees are required to integrate gender into their parliamentary work. Also, while there is a ‘women’s caucus – the Speaker’s Reference Group on Gender Equality Issues – this group is comprised of both women and men. This paper analyzes the different types of specialized bodies in the Swedish parliament in terms of their structure, membership, and function.
