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Gender equality in the Nordic region - vision or reality?

Nordic countries a leaders in international gender equality surveys. Is reality as splendid as the vision of gender equality in the Nordic region? Nordic Labour Journal has examined the past 40 years of female representation in governments, trade unions, employers organisations and other symbolically important positions. Are women taking over power?
The Nordic region: approaching equality step by step

The Nordic region: approaching equality step by step

Nordic women have been an inspiration for the fight for gender equality in other countries. Between them they have filled all but two of the positions of political power: no Nordic country has as yet had a female arch bishop or a female commander-in-chief. Meanwhile both the President and Prime Minister in Finland are women.

The Nordic region: approaching equality step by step - Read More…

Denmark still waits for a female prime minister

Denmark still waits for a female prime minister

Few countries have been so mentally prepared for a female prime minister as Denmark. The political TV drama Borgen has been a great success, also in neighbouring countries. It portrays a female prime minister and the power struggle at Christiansborg, the Copenhagen palace which houses parliament, the Prime Minister's office and the supreme court.

Denmark still waits for a female prime minister - Read More…

Finnish women have conquered the most important positions of power

Finnish women have conquered the most important positions of power

Finnish women top the Nordic Labour Journal power barometer with 15 out of a possible 40 points. Not least because both their president and prime minster are women.

Finnish women have conquered the most important positions of power - Read More…

Iceland: the crisis brought a female breakthrough

Iceland: the crisis brought a female breakthrough

The financial crisis hit Iceland harder than any other Nordic country, and it also led to a political earthquake. Wide-spread corruption and nepotism made voters look for new politicians. This has benefited women.

Iceland: the crisis brought a female breakthrough - Read More…

Norwegian women have lost the most power

Norwegian women have lost the most power

Norway has been the hottest country in the gender equality debate since quotas were made law there in 2008. Publicly listed firms, often major listed companies, must have at least 40 percent of each sex in their boardrooms. Yet at the same time women have lost more positions of power in Norway than in any other Nordic country.

Norwegian women have lost the most power - Read More…

Who'll replace Sweden's powerful women?

Who'll replace Sweden's powerful women?

Sweden is the only Nordic country which has never had a female prime minister or a female head of state in modern times. The Social Democrat Party leader Mona Sahlin could have become prime minister in the September 2010 elections, but her new red-green coalition lost.

Who'll replace Sweden's powerful women? - Read More…

New tack sought in Danish equality debate

Norway uses quotas and a men's panel to improve gender equality, but in Denmark there is disagreement on how to do it. Yet the Danes do agree there's a need for a gender equality debate which focuses on both sexes.

New tack sought in Danish equality debate - Read More…

"Part-time is a result of lacking equality”

"Part-time is a result of lacking equality”

The high number of involuntary part-timers is a result of how we value women's work, says Annelie Nordström, chairwoman at Kommunal, the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union. The union has been fighting for the right to full-time employment for 30 years. It's been an uphill battle, and since the economic crisis hit in 2009 it's been even harder.

"Part-time is a result of lacking equality” - Read More…

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