The Hindu Business Line : The Nordic balance

The Nordic countries have done it again. According to The Global Gender Gap Report, 2008, compiled by the World Economic Forum (WEF) based on surveys in 130 countries, they top the list in the best equality norms for women. Among the Nordic countries, Sweden ranks third, while Norway ranks first. Finland is second and Iceland, fourth. The Index scores can be interpreted as the percentage of the gap between women and men that has been closed.

According to WEF, it is based on four counts: Economic participation and opportunity: outcomes on salaries, participation levels and access to high-skilled employment; Educational attainment: outcomes on access to basic and higher level education; Political empowerment: outcomes on representation in decision-making structures; and Health and survival: outcomes on life expectancy and sex ratio.

According to the report, the Nordic countries have closed over 80 per cent of the gender gap, which is “commendable” since no country has achieved a 100 per cent realisation of the goal.

Among the Asian countries, only the Philippines (6) and Sri Lanka (12) figure in the top-20. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan perform poorly in the economic, education and health sub-indices, but their overall scores have improved thanks to relatively good performances on political empowerment — Bangladesh ranks 13th, India 25th and Pakistan 50th in this sub-index.

Policy of equality

A major reason for Sweden’s consistently good performance is its consciously pursued policy of equality for women as part of the larger national interest, a phenomenon that this writer observed closely during a recent visit. After the recent elections, The Local, an English newspaper in Sweden, reported, “The newly elected Swedish Parliament is the most gender balanced in its history. Of the 349 Parliament members, 47 per cent are women (164). After the last election in 2002, women made up 45.3 per cent of Parliament.”

When Sweden became a democracy in 1921 — the monarchy is purely titular here — vote for all was introduced. In 1970, joint taxation was replaced by individual taxation. Social activists observe that these policy decisions have had a considerable impact not only on gender equality but also on other political reforms, especially in the areas of social insurance, improvements in the education, health and care sectors. In short, gender equality is no longer a woman’s issue — it’s a policy area affecting all and hence requires support from both men and women.

This Nordic country is also one of the most liberal in the world in dealing with the issue of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender). In a chat at the iconic feminist and Queer studies bookshop, ‘Hallongrottan’, Anna Maria Sörberg, a feminist and a journalist, recalled, “In the 1980s, at 18, I came to Stockholm from a small town. Lesbianism and feminism were big issues at that time in the western world. From the 1960s to 1970s, debates over women’s care-giving role and the Left movement were also going on. In Sweden, we had a clear idea of feminism: we worked with the Government for a liberal policy regarding women’s role as equals in society. The feminist movement here has had a positive effect on our society.”

Social welfare system

According to Sweden’s official Web site www.sweden.se, 79 per cent women are gainfully employed and the birth rate is among the highest in Europe. A well-developed social welfare system makes it easier to combine work and family. Maternity and paternity leave are for 12 months with full benefits.

Ira Mallik, a freelance journalist with an Indian father and Swedish mother, confesses, “With our erratic work schedule, I can’t imagine how I could have brought up my young children — five-year-old son and 18-month-old daughter — anywhere but in this country.” Ira’s husband is a freelance graphic artist. “We split our parental leave, taking six months off from work each, even while earning 80 per cent of our salary.”

She explains that all married couples she knows have, on an average, two children. Because the Government infrastructure plays a supportive role in bringing up the children, it is less stressful for parents and much easier for women to get back to work. “Daycare is subsidised to a very low fee after the child turns one and most children go to kindergarten from the age of one or two years,” she adds. Moreover, as single mothers get adequate support to bring up their children, it is not as difficult as in many other countries.

Not all that rosy

However, there are many who feel that the picture is not all that rosy. “In Sweden, as in any other country, the family is generally a patriarchal institution,” says Mathilda Piehl, communications specialist working with RFSL (the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights).

“Young women, especially from the middle and upper class, have benefited from the feminist struggle. They have good access to education and many live their lives without their gender being a burden. But this story changes quite dramatically if they get pregnant.”

She points out that though heterosexual couples have the opportunity to share their maternity leave, “statistics show that women still use 79 per cent of it and men only 21 per cent.” Adds Mathilda, “Double work for women is a fact.”

High divorce rate

The divorce rate in Swedenis the highest in Europe and second only to the US. Young couples such as Henrick and Anna, who work in NGOs dealing with sexual rights and young people, justify this by arguing that if they are not happy, there is no point in remaining married.

Then there are many couples who opt out of marriage, registering themselves as ‘sambo’, that is, partners living together. Incidentally, lesbian and gay couples can legally adopt children in Sweden.

The government policies on LGBT are extremely liberal. But the emergence of the Christian Democrat Party, a coalition partner in Parliament, with its conservative stance, including opposition to homosexual marriage and abortion, has created apprehension among social activists.

Despite the problems, however, Sweden remains undoubtedly one of the most women-friendly countries in the world.

Women’s Feature Service