In 1958, Sweden incorporated the first female brigade into the Stockholm police force. It was announced as a trial, and the population was warned that it could turn out to be a failed experiment. It was the first country in Europe and one of the first in the world to officially include women as an institutionalized unit within the national police force, with the same legal authority, duties, and training as men. They were provided with a new uniform, including a skirt, hat, stockings, garters, and pumps that were not very comfortable for work. They were distributed throughout the police stations in the Klara district and had to adapt to work spaces governed by men who were not very cooperative. The decision, which was intended to modernize and update the police force, sparked public debate and much internal conflict. Many left their jobs in the face of hostility from their colleagues and superiors. In fact, the trickle of resignations jeopardized the continuity of the female brigade. Many dubbed it the skirt brigade as a way to belittle his role. Now, Netflix has released the Swedish series The new brigade (Skiftet) which explains this social transformation through the true stories of the women who formed part of this brigade. The end credits of each episode feature photographs of the true pioneers of this progress.
The protagonists are Carin, Siv, and Ingrid, roommates and police station companions. Their characters are not exemplified by specific real-life references, but they portray authentic experiences. The new brigade It's a straightforward series that captivates with its curiosity, revealing how this change worked and the reluctance it generated. The pressure to be a good professional, the lack of trust from superiors, the hostility of colleagues, social reluctance, and unfavorable working conditions become the breeding ground for the various plots. The performances are solid, and the workplace tensions between men and women are well-constructed. The depth of reality is felt in the nuances of some characters. The historical setting effectively transports the viewer to another era, perhaps with a somewhat naive visual approach, but which lends personality to the production. The main investigative plot, which continues throughout the six episodes, is well-woven, although at times it feels somewhat flat. The sharp transitions between sequences seem to pay homage to 1960s television productions, but with a more contemporary twist. The series has a brisk pace, with episodes that are under 40 minutes long. Despite the series' very specific context, many women will be able to recognize in the conflicts some of their own experiences in more sexist work environments. And we don't need to go back to the 1950s and 1960s, because many of the situations were repeated in subsequent decades. The series also serves as a reminder of the slow institutional learning curve regarding equality.
