Study title

Homosexuality in Finland in the 1940s and the 1960s, Data Gathered 1994-1998

Dataset ID Number

FSD2291

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2291
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd2291

Data Type

Qualitative

Authors

• Juvonen, Tuula (University of Tampere. Department of Social Policy and Social Work)

Other Identification/Acknowledgements

• Jaakola, Tarja

Abstract

The study charted the perceptions and beliefs about same-sex relationships in Finland after the wars. The data were collected between 1994 and 1998, and the full data contain 26 interviews, conducted mainly in Tampere. The total length of the dataset is 660 pages. Some of the respondents had been in a same-sex relationship, while some were outside observers. The respondents were born in the 1910-1950s. The interviews explore the status and living conditions of sexual minorities in Finland in the 1940-1960s. The questions charted topics such as meeting places of gays and lesbians, general attitudes towards sexuality, attitudes towards famous gays and lesbians, and whether there were any chances for members of sexual minorities to build a relationship. Further questions probed the respondents' views on living in Tampere, homosexuality in the media, and criminalised homosexuality. The data are also available for teaching purposes (FSD2308).

The dataset is only available in Finnish.

Keywords

homosexuality; minority groups; partnerships (personal); same-sex relationships; sexual identity; sexual orientation; social history; tolerance

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Social behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Minorities (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (C) available only for research including master's theses.

Data Collector

• Juvonen, Tuula (University of Tampere. Department of Social Policy and Social Work)

Time Period Covered

1940 – 1960

Collection Dates

1994-01-30 – 1998-06-08

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland, Tampere

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Group

Universe

Former or current citizens of Tampere born in the 1910-1950s who had some connection to same-sex relationships or members of sexual minorities

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Availability

Non-probability: Respondent-assisted

Respondents were recruited using snowball sampling. In addition, invitations to participate in the study were published in different newspapers, on the Internet and in public lectures. Invitations were also given in various events targeted at lesbians and gays as well as left in places favoured by members of sexual minorities. Contact details of police officers participating in the interviews were received from Tampere police station. The interviews were mainly conducted in Tampere.

Collection Mode

Face-to-face interview

Research Instrument

Interview scheme and/or themes

Data Files

The data consist of 26 interviews, approximately 660 pages in total. Transcripts are available in RTF and HTML files.

Data File Language

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

Qualitative data are available in their original language only and are not translated.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The interviews were transcribed into digital format during the research project and they were anonymised during archiving. All names of private persons were replaced by pseudonyms and other direct and indirect identifiers were replaced or removed.

The doctoral dissertation of Tuula Juvonen included a total of 41 interviews. The interviews of participants who gave their permission for archiving were deposited with the FSD.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Juvonen, Tuula (University of Tampere): Homosexuality in Finland in the 1940s and the 1960s, Data Gathered 1994-1998 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2008-01-25). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd2291; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2291

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Juvonen, Tuula (2002). Varjoelämää ja julkisia salaisuuksia. Tampere: Osuuskunta Vastapaino.

Larsson, Christer (2009). Homosexualitetsdiskurser i Pentti Holappas 1950-tals produktion. I: Uppsatser om kön, historiebruk och krigets efterspel (red. Lindberg, Hanna & Östman, Ann-Catrin), 115-134. Arken. Studier i historia vid Åbo Akademi; 1. Åbo: Åbo Akademi.

Recker, J., & Perry, A. (2024). Data on the Margins - Data from LGBTIQ+ Populations in European Social Science Data Archives. Data Science Journal 23(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2024-039