Persistent paradoxes, turbulent times

Abstract

The Nordic countries are internationally known for their high levels of gender equality. ‘Gender equality’ has indeed become both a central component of the countries’ national identities and even an export item, especially for Sweden, which has been seen to offer its good practices and policies to other countries. The Nordic model of welfare states is intrinsically connected to the issue of gender equality and the Nordic states have both promoted gender equality and benefited from it. Gender equality has been argued to be ‘one of the most prominent hallmarks’ of the Nordic welfare model and its distinctive welfare state character. The Nordic experience has exposed some paradoxes connected to the dominant vision of gender equality. Gender equality there has been established as a labour market and social welfare issue rather than as an inalienable right to non-discrimination. Concrete positive measures used in the Nordic countries include quotas, for example, for company boards, especially in Norway.