In Finland, during the last decades of the Russian rule, independence was a common target of the whole nation. A lot of political, educational, etc. In this work also women's movements were active. When independency then was reached in 1917, it was an achievement of everyone, including both genders. In all Nordic countries, the public sector has from the beginning of this century offered the most working places for women.
Researchers speak about a symbolic gender contract, although there is of course no written paper.
But it was generally accepted that women had their responsibility in public life. So librarianship, especially public libraries was self-evidently a suitable area for women. There exists impressive documents in our library history about this mission. In fact, the mission is still continuing. Women do have this mission of cultivating the people in nearly every culture.