MALVINA'S HISTORY
The female association ”Kvinnliga Teknologers Sammanslutning” (Female Engineering student gathering) was founded in 1927. They had their own room in the student union building, Osquldarummet, where parties, study circles and lectures took place. The greatest topic during their gatherings was regarding access to female toilets and the battle for this lasted all the way until the 60’s. During the 50’s the number of women attending KTH grew larger. This made it hard for the association to stick together and eventually it ceased to exist for a period of time.
The network was recreated in 1986 and renamed Malvina. In the beginning it consisted of small informal gatherings, but during the school year 1989-1990 it became a student organization and grew to 200 members. The female dinner on the 28th of November 1990, which is Malvinas name day, was attended by 115 students. Unfortunately, Malvina had difficulties keeping members due to the fear among female students of being stamped as a ”red sock” by the male students at KTH.
Eivor Lilja became responsible for equality work at KTH in 1992. She was given the mission to recreate the network once again by Harriet Ryd who was KTHs first female professor. Thanks to Eivor Lilja and Harriet Ryd and other enthusiasts Malvina grew to the network it is today. Eivor Lilja and Harriet Ryd are today honorary members of Malvina.
Osqulda has historically been the name of a female engineering student at KTH and gave the name to a street on the main campus. In recent years it's been criticized for it's play on the Swedish word “oskuld” virgin, and the name for a female student was changed to Quristina. But the street's name whoever remained until the 8th of June 2018 when it was rename to “Malvinas väg” Malvinas street. During the opening ceremony inspiring speeches made by Harriet Ryd and the vice principal of KTH, Anna Wahl.
Malvinas mission today is to continue to strengthen the female network at KTH across the chapters and towards the world of business.