[3][4] Toivanen, who was a member of the People's Party of Finland (now the Liberals), became active during the 1960s when she was elected to the municipal council of Kaarina.

She was elected to the Parliament of Finland in 1970 to represent Turku Province South (now Varsinais-Suomi), after receiving endorsements by teachers' unions as well as former Minister for Social Affairs Irma Karvikko.

[1] In Parliament, Toivanen worked on school reform legislation and chaired the Liberal People's Party parliamentary group from 1973 to 1975.

[3][4] She was among the top vote-getters in the 1975 Finnish parliamentary election, and The National Biography of Finland describes her as one of her party's most prominent members of the 1970s.

[2] As minister, she negotiated comprehensive pension legislation and helped establish a government fund for veteran rehabilitation.