Gender Equality
Articles on gender equality in chronological order.
Gender equality in the Nordic region – where are we?
We have been writing about gender equality for decades. Boring? Absolutely not, because it is as relevant as ever. This year, the Nordic Labour Journal’s gender equality barometer shows the road to a gender-equal Nordic region is long. But this is about more than statistics and barometers – it is about individuals’ opportunities and choices.
Gender equality barometer 2025
Gender equality in the top positions of power in the Nordic region in 2025 remains at a low level in NLJ’s gender equality barometer. Women get 68 points – 100 points mean full equality. But it would be even worse if Iceland did not for the first time in history elect both a female prime minister and a female president.
Iceland: Equality must be fought in every sector
In Iceland, women are now in a majority in the government coalition, and all three government party leaders are women. Many women also hold major public positions. In general, Iceland is considered one of the most gender-equal countries in the world. Yet despite the good progress, experts say that in many areas, Iceland is a long way from reaching equality.
Boyhood researcher: "We need to exercise our reading muscle"
There is still work to be done to make Finnish schools more gender equal. An ambitious gender equality programme is needed, believes the Finnish boyhood researcher Harry Lunabba. Both boys and girls would benefit from it. Falling PISA literacy scores can have long-term consequences for pupils.
Sweden: Gender gap widens in education, economically and politically
Women are significantly more represented in higher education, especially in rural areas - a trend that is repeated in all Nordic countries. It has given many women a better life with higher employment levels and wages. However, the development also shows that men are falling behind.
Nordic maritime sector sets sail towards greater gender equality
Men still dominate the maritime industry. In certain onboard professions, women are almost absent. Creating a secure working environment for everyone, regardless of gender, is crucial to make the industry more equal, argue the initiators of the Nordic REDO Lookout project.
Equality under pressure – how the Nordics are fighting back
More than 50 years after the cooperation on gender equality began, the Nordics are doubling down on the promise to ensure that the region will continue to lead the way in the fight for equality and inclusion.
Difficult conditions for trans people in the Nordic labour market
Trans people are a particularly vulnerable group in working life and face higher unemployment levels, often insecure employment, lower pay and higher rates of sick leave than the majority population. This is according to the report ”Trans People’s Working Life Conditions in the Nordic Countries”, which was presented at a Nordic conference in October.
Menopause initiative saves millions in sick leave costs for Swedish municipality
The traditional phase which sooner or later affects nearly half of the Nordic workforce has long been viewed as a women’s issue. New initiatives are about to change that.
Who wants to hire young women and men with two children?
March is when gender equality usually takes centre stage. This year, the NLJ’s gender equality barometer shows a setback for women's share of 24 power positions in the Nordic countries. But we also look at childbirth, artificial intelligence, the EU's platform directive, and Iceland's refugee policy.
Severe drop in childbirth rates across the Nordics
What will happen to the Nordic labour market when birth rates in all of the five Nordic countries have fallen to record-low levels? Can existing assisted fertilisation technology help increase the number of children? Or is the drop in foreign adoptions larger?
Midwife – a norm-breaking profession for Swedish men
The Swedish labour market is very gender segregated. But some go against the grain. Like the men choosing to become midwives.
"Structures maintain the gender-segregated labour market"
“Men are underrepresented across the entire welfare sector, including healthcare, social care and education. Research shows that the reasons primarily lie on an organisational and structural level and that efforts to get more men to choose jobs in the welfare sector therefore must also be targeted at an organisational and structural level.”
Paulina Brandberg – the Minister for Equality who wants to take a tough stance
What can the Nordics bring to inspire other countries to improve gender equality? Sweden’s Minister for Equality Paulina Brandberg has two rather surprising examples: High divorce numbers and changing tables in the gents.
2024 Equality barometer: Three significant women have disappeared from power
Two years ago, it looked like the 24 positions of power in the NLJ’s gender equality barometer were just a few years away from being equally divided between men and women. Women had reached 92 points, and at 100 they would be on par with men. But in 2023, women’s points fell to 72 and this year sees a further fall down to 65 points.
Fighting domestic violence in Latvia with Finnish and Norwegian support
Just a lovers’ spat. A common explanation in Latvia for domestic violence, although legislation has been considerably tightened in recent years. The country’s Marta Centre, with support from Norway, is working to reduce stereotypical perceptions among Latvian government officials.
It is time to get women on board again
The number of female state leaders is falling. In rapid succession, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced their retirements.
Female entrepreneur, CEO and role model
Hanne Jarmer is the inventor of a wall-mounted robot that exercises dogs’ brains. She is also a role model for female entrepreneurs who generally find it far harder than men to attract investors.
Norwegian nuclear physicist: make space for pink in science
Sunniva Johanne Rose is a physicist and blogger. She is good at sciences but also loves shoes, makeup, interior design and fashion. During her academic career, she has faced much prejudice against women in pink.
2023 Gender Equality Barometer: a dramatic fall
A dramatic fall from 92 to 77 female points – that is the result in the Nordic Labour Journal’s gender equality barometer 2023. It measures whether a man or a woman holds 24 positions of power in the five Nordic countries. 100 points for both genders would mean full equality.
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