Danish gender equality shifting up a gear

How equal are you and your wife, in your view?

I think we are very equal, as in equally worthy. We very much respect each other and highly value what the other does and is good at.

What does your wife do - is she in full time work?

She is a health visitor and right now she is working part time. She was already doing this before I became a government minister. It is what she always wanted to do.

How have you divided chores between you in your home - before and after you became a government minister?

Right now while I work quite a lot and Anya works part time it’s clearly she who does most. I do do as much as I possibly can to help, though. And we both know that I won’t be a government minister for ever, and that at some stage the division will become more equal again. But you definitely don’t escape the hoovering just because you’re a government minister.

Who cooks - you or your wife?

I love cooking and do it as often as I possibly can. I have actually published a cookery book with Indian food. But I don’t cook as often as I’d like these days.

Did you take paternal and parental leave? 

Yes, I did take some leave, but I haven’t actually taken much paternal leave. And I have regretted it many times. I did, however, taken leave from political life for a while to spend more time with the family. I have also spent quite a lot of time with my children during other periods because I have often had jobs with flexible working hours which have allowed me to for instance pick them up early from child care and school. I have also been able to adjust my work to make it fit in with my leave from political life. I would actually say that one of the hardest things about my current job is to be so much away from my children. I miss them a lot.