Nordic power positions: a modest increase in gender equality
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Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen looks up at Finland's Prime Minister Juha Sipilä. Both countries are facing elections, and on the 8th of March Sipilä announced that he and his government would step down. Perhaps Finland will improve its place in the gender equality barometer after the election. Three points is not a lot, when 20 points means equality between men and women in 24 positions of power in each country. In Norway, women have had more than that during Erna Solberg's reign, but this year the country ends up with 17 points. Iceland gets 19 points and with that is best out of the Nordic countries.
50 percent female government minister representation might look like gender equality has been accomplished. But it also depends on which positions are being held by women.
We have distributed 200 points - 40 for each Nordic country. 100 female points equals full gender equality.
We have looked at 13 government minister posts. Each gives one point except prime minister (5), finance minister (3) and foreign minister (2).
We have also included leaders of the largest trade unions and employers' organisations:
Leaders of confederations of trade unions (4), leaders of service industries unions (2), leaders of trade unions for academics (2), leaders of employers' organisations (2) and managing directors at employers' organisations (2).
And finally six important symbolic positions:
Heads of state, supreme court presidents, heads of central banks, arch bishops, police commissioners and commander-in-chief.
Heads of state get three points, while the others get one each. We have not included leaders of major companies because they are not considered to be employed as a result of a democratic process. We measure at 8am on 8 March each year.
We have made certain adjustments for Iceland. Since the country only has seven government ministries, some ministers have been given an extra point, giving Iceland the same maximum of 40 points as the other Nordic countries.