Are you standing in front of Arsenalsgatan nr 7?
Once upon a time, at the end of the 19th century, this was very posh street. So posh the very richest and most influential men in town found it the perfect place for their gentlemen’s club. It’s still here and the name of it is Sällskapet – the Society. Inside, you will find a lot of handsome rooms to play billiards or cards in. You will also find one of the largest private libraries in Sweden. At least, you would find all that - if you were a member. On the website of Sällskapet it says that the purpose of the club is to offer a “good environment for social life and comforts”. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Of course, Sällskapet has excellent connections to exclusive gentlemen’s clubs all over the world. So, who comes here? Well, powerful men, of course. Many of them working in the legal system, the world of corporate business or politics. This is where they come for meetings, to have lunch or party within a select group of people.
Any ladies? No thank you.
Today, Sällskapet has about 2000 members. One of them is the king of Sweden, Carl 16 Gustaf. His son, prince Carl Philip is another. And then there are quite a few politicians, active or retired. Such as former minister of defence, Anders Björck, who is chairman of the club. And Sven-Otto Littorin, best remembered for saying when interviewed about equal rights for women in corporate businesses:
- It’s a bloody shame, these old structures do stick. We’re going to form a special group to really get a grip on equal rights for women.”
One can only wonder what his thoughts might be on the structures of Sällskapet? Another member puts it this way:
-You could argue that we’re not quite up to date. We love the girls but the old guys do think it’s rather nice not to have to slither and, flirt, this way or that. It’s more relaxed. And the girls – they wouldn’t want a guy in their sewing circle would they? We’re keeping up traditions!
Let’s leave Sällskapet in the hope that they will wake up and smell the new millennium one of these days.
Once upon a time, at the end of the 19th century, this was very posh street. So posh the very richest and most influential men in town found it the perfect place for their gentlemen’s club. It’s still here and the name of it is Sällskapet – the Society. Inside, you will find a lot of handsome rooms to play billiards or cards in. You will also find one of the largest private libraries in Sweden. At least, you would find all that - if you were a member. On the website of Sällskapet it says that the purpose of the club is to offer a “good environment for social life and comforts”. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Of course, Sällskapet has excellent connections to exclusive gentlemen’s clubs all over the world. So, who comes here? Well, powerful men, of course. Many of them working in the legal system, the world of corporate business or politics. This is where they come for meetings, to have lunch or party within a select group of people.
Any ladies? No thank you.
Today, Sällskapet has about 2000 members. One of them is the king of Sweden, Carl 16 Gustaf. His son, prince Carl Philip is another. And then there are quite a few politicians, active or retired. Such as former minister of defence, Anders Björck, who is chairman of the club. And Sven-Otto Littorin, best remembered for saying when interviewed about equal rights for women in corporate businesses:
- It’s a bloody shame, these old structures do stick. We’re going to form a special group to really get a grip on equal rights for women.”
One can only wonder what his thoughts might be on the structures of Sällskapet? Another member puts it this way:
-You could argue that we’re not quite up to date. We love the girls but the old guys do think it’s rather nice not to have to slither and, flirt, this way or that. It’s more relaxed. And the girls – they wouldn’t want a guy in their sewing circle would they? We’re keeping up traditions!
Let’s leave Sällskapet in the hope that they will wake up and smell the new millennium one of these days.
