Gender Roles

• Men and women are treated equally.

• Gender equality is one of the basis of Swedish society. The aim of Sweden’s gender equality policies is to ensure that women and men enjoy the same opportunities, rights and commitment in all areas of life.

• They believe that this lead to a more democratic society.

The Swedish approach to fairness

The overarching principle is that everyone, regardless of gender, has the right to work and support him or herself, to balance career and family life, and to live without the fear of abuse or violence.

Gender equality implies not only equal distribution between men and women in all domains of society. It is also about the qualitative aspects, ensuring that the knowledge and experience of both men and women are used to promote progress in all aspects of society.

The annual Global Gender Gap Report, introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2006, measures equality in the areas of economics, politics, education and health. Since the report’s inception, Sweden has never finished lower than fourth in the Gender Gap rankings.

• Men and women have the same rights at school, in the workplace, and at home.

Gender equality at school

Gender equality is strongly emphasized in the Education Act, the law that governs all education in Sweden. It states that gender equality should reach and guide all levels of the Swedish educational system.

The principles are increasingly being incorporated into education from pre-school level onwards, with the aim of giving children the same opportunities in life, regardless of their gender, by using teaching methods that counteract traditional gender patterns and gender roles.

Today, girls generally have better grades in Swedish schools than boys. Girls also perform better in national tests, and a greater proportion of girls’ complete upper secondary education.

Whereas a few decades ago, men dominated the university realm, today nearly two-thirds of all university degrees in Sweden are awarded to women. Equal numbers of women and men now take part in postgraduate and doctoral studies.

Women and men at work

Sweden has come a long way in making sure that women and men are treated equally in the workplace. But pay differences remain, and in the Swedish private sector the proportion of women in top positions remains weak.

The Swedish government strives to ensure that power and resources are distributed fairly between the men and women, and to create the conditions that give women and men the same power and opportunities.

• Parents are allowed 480 days of parental leave when a child is born or adopted.

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