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ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus is using the examples of strong women in her life to support International Day of the Girl on Sunday. She says she grew up in a world where her education was valued more than her sister’s, and she doesn’t want other young women to face the same hurdle.
Ulvaeus says that strong girls pose a threat to powerful men “like no other.” He says that has been demonstrated by the response to climate activist Greta Thunberg. He says he was inspired by his daughters and six granddaughters. The United Nations in 2011 designated October 11 as a day to promote the rights of girls and address the challenges faced by girls around the world.
ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus grew up at a time when her education was valued more than her sister’s, and she wants it to be different for girls around the world. That’s the approach he took with his daughters, drawing inspiration from the women in his life.
“I have been around women, strong women for a long time,” Ulvaeus said, speaking about the need to empower female voices ahead of Sunday’s International Day of the Girl.
The day “should be cause for celebration, but the sad thing is that this girl deserves much more than what the old men who rule the world are willing to give her,” Ulvaeus wrote in an article to support the day he first shared with The Associated Press.
The piece begins: “Take a look at the elders who rule the world. With few exceptions, their powers rest on cultures, religions and ideologies that repress women.”
Ulvaeus said he was inspired to write about the need to support International Day of the Girl.
In 2011, the United Nations declared October 11 as International Day of the Girl Child to promote the rights of girls and address the challenges faced by girls around the world.
In his article, Ulvaeus writes about how these powerful men are “afraid of the girl” because “she poses a threat to their power like no other.”
“You could see it with Greta Thunberg,” she said, speaking about the teenage Swedish climate change activist. “They got so ridiculously angry and irritated and, you know. And it’s because the girl is such a strong symbol of equality, of a better world, but a world where they wouldn’t exist.”
Ulvaeus said that growing up, his father “thought it was more important that I get an education than my sister” and then began his early career in a group of men, The Hootenanny Singers. But he says he was always “very curious, very skeptical and honest.”
“There is nothing really that says that men and women should have these roles that we read about. At first, I could see through that. And I could see that there is no good reason,” he said of the point change from The view she had when she was about 30. “So I think that’s why and when I became more or less a feminist without even saying it at the time.”
In his later career, he explains: “Most of the projects I’ve done, like my mother, it’s been, you know, basically, female projects with me on it. “
And for his three daughters, there have always been strong female influences.
“They never knew of another future that wasn’t the same because they could see it at home. They could see it up close. Agnetha (Fältskog) was an extremely strong woman that I first married in ABBA. And my current wife, Lena, for many years, many years, it is also very strong. “
And when it comes to his six granddaughters and the next generation of girls, he has a certain optimism. “For them as human beings, I am very optimistic because they are very open. They are not afraid to say what they feel.”
Ulvaeus has also taken some positives from his months of self-isolation and believes he will travel less when the global pandemic ends.
“It has been in a way very, very calm and very good for me, because there has been time for reflection. There has been time for all kinds of things that you don’t have time for when you run between airports.”
Speaking through Zoom, he adds, “personally, I think 80%, at least of all my meetings, will be conducted like this, from now on.”
ABBA will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2021 and for fans waiting for the band’s promised new music, Ulvaeus remains tight-lipped and philosophical.
“I’ve been saying things about it and it’s been wrong, so I’d rather not say anything right now, but it will eventually be there. That’s all I can say.”
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