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| Sweden Provides Some Perspective on Women and Equality | Sweden Provides Some Perspective on Women and Equality |
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| It was a big day in the House of Representatives on Jan. 3 when newly elected women, many dressed in suffragist white, marked the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in the United States. | It was a big day in the House of Representatives on Jan. 3 when newly elected women, many dressed in suffragist white, marked the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in the United States. |
| There was another reason to celebrate: a record 131 women took their seats that day, 106 in the House and 25 in the Senate, or 24.5 percent of the total voting members. | There was another reason to celebrate: a record 131 women took their seats that day, 106 in the House and 25 in the Senate, or 24.5 percent of the total voting members. |
| But half a world away, in Sweden, where women also won the right to vote in 1919, those numbers look archaic. Women now represent 46 percent of the parliament and 50 percent of the government’s cabinet, with gender equality often the norm at other layers of government. Even the General Synod of the Church of Sweden can claim near parity, with 123 women and 128 men on its 2018-21 board. | But half a world away, in Sweden, where women also won the right to vote in 1919, those numbers look archaic. Women now represent 46 percent of the parliament and 50 percent of the government’s cabinet, with gender equality often the norm at other layers of government. Even the General Synod of the Church of Sweden can claim near parity, with 123 women and 128 men on its 2018-21 board. |
| These kinds of ratios of women in positions of political power are shared across Scandinavia, sometimes called the Nordic Nirvana by women’s rights advocates and experts. | These kinds of ratios of women in positions of political power are shared across Scandinavia, sometimes called the Nordic Nirvana by women’s rights advocates and experts. |
| But do more women in government make a real difference? Are there any lessons for women in the United States as they look to their counterparts around the world? It depends. Historically, quotas for women could be pure window dressing, as, for example, in the Soviet Union, where for decades women made up a fixed 30 percent of the Supreme Soviet, the country’s highest legislative body, an institution that had no power. | But do more women in government make a real difference? Are there any lessons for women in the United States as they look to their counterparts around the world? It depends. Historically, quotas for women could be pure window dressing, as, for example, in the Soviet Union, where for decades women made up a fixed 30 percent of the Supreme Soviet, the country’s highest legislative body, an institution that had no power. |
| In the last decade, quotas for women have been imposed on governments, parliaments and political parties in a number of Middle Eastern and African countries. Rwanda leads the world in women’s representation in parliament with 61 percent. | In the last decade, quotas for women have been imposed on governments, parliaments and political parties in a number of Middle Eastern and African countries. Rwanda leads the world in women’s representation in parliament with 61 percent. |
| These quotas, which vary from country to country, are credited with giving women a greater voice, but not necessarily more power, and, in some cases, have been criticized as “unqualified tokens” drawn from “unrepresentative elites.” | These quotas, which vary from country to country, are credited with giving women a greater voice, but not necessarily more power, and, in some cases, have been criticized as “unqualified tokens” drawn from “unrepresentative elites.” |
| But in the Nordic countries, women are convinced that their increased presence in politics and government has had a real impact on women’s lives, and by extension on societies as a whole. Seconding that opinion are two recent rankings of “best countries for women”: four Nordic countries came out on top in a 2018 survey by the World Economic Forum, while Sweden was No. 1 on a similar list published this year by U.S. News & World Report. | But in the Nordic countries, women are convinced that their increased presence in politics and government has had a real impact on women’s lives, and by extension on societies as a whole. Seconding that opinion are two recent rankings of “best countries for women”: four Nordic countries came out on top in a 2018 survey by the World Economic Forum, while Sweden was No. 1 on a similar list published this year by U.S. News & World Report. |
| “I am proud of that,” said Asa Lindhagen, Sweden’s Minister of Gender Equality, echoing the satisfaction shared by many Swedish women. A civil engineer by profession, Ms. Lindhagen credits the perspective brought by women legislators for a whole list of initiatives, from improved child care, better protection for pregnant women, more opportunities for working mothers and fair tax rates for wives. | “I am proud of that,” said Asa Lindhagen, Sweden’s Minister of Gender Equality, echoing the satisfaction shared by many Swedish women. A civil engineer by profession, Ms. Lindhagen credits the perspective brought by women legislators for a whole list of initiatives, from improved child care, better protection for pregnant women, more opportunities for working mothers and fair tax rates for wives. |
| Still, some caution against expecting too much from the new influx of women into the United States Congress. Legislation proposed by Swedish women over the last four decades was backed by a broad social consensus that supports a munificent welfare state. That consensus is more difficult in a divided and more diverse United States. Generous parental leave, free child care, schooling and medical care are taken for granted in Sweden; in the United States, they are still up for debate. | Still, some caution against expecting too much from the new influx of women into the United States Congress. Legislation proposed by Swedish women over the last four decades was backed by a broad social consensus that supports a munificent welfare state. That consensus is more difficult in a divided and more diverse United States. Generous parental leave, free child care, schooling and medical care are taken for granted in Sweden; in the United States, they are still up for debate. |
| But gender equality is not just about social benefits, Ms. Lindhagen noted. It is also about job opportunities for women, and economic growth. According to a 2018 report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 75 percent of women in the Nordic countries are in paid jobs (compared with 57 percent in the United States) and women’s employment has accounted for 10 percent to 20 percent of the overall average annual growth rate since the early 1970s. | But gender equality is not just about social benefits, Ms. Lindhagen noted. It is also about job opportunities for women, and economic growth. According to a 2018 report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 75 percent of women in the Nordic countries are in paid jobs (compared with 57 percent in the United States) and women’s employment has accounted for 10 percent to 20 percent of the overall average annual growth rate since the early 1970s. |
| Birgitta Dahl, a former speaker of the Swedish parliament, who at 81 is regarded as the doyenne of the equal rights movement, remembers when life wasn’t so rosy for women in Sweden. | Birgitta Dahl, a former speaker of the Swedish parliament, who at 81 is regarded as the doyenne of the equal rights movement, remembers when life wasn’t so rosy for women in Sweden. |
| She discovered this as a child, she said in a telephone interview. “There were so many things that interested me, that I wanted to do, that I wasn’t supposed to do.” At age 13, she insisted on meeting her school master to discuss issues of sexuality, which she felt were being ignored. “He listened to me and took my advice,” she recalled. | She discovered this as a child, she said in a telephone interview. “There were so many things that interested me, that I wanted to do, that I wasn’t supposed to do.” At age 13, she insisted on meeting her school master to discuss issues of sexuality, which she felt were being ignored. “He listened to me and took my advice,” she recalled. |
| When Ms. Dahl first was elected to parliament in 1968, she said, women held only 12 percent of the seats. She said the arrival of women did more than change the gender balance. | When Ms. Dahl first was elected to parliament in 1968, she said, women held only 12 percent of the seats. She said the arrival of women did more than change the gender balance. |
| “Greater equality had the effect that we now have competence in government decisions that we didn’t have before, when parliament was dominated by old-fashioned men who knew nothing about social reality,” she said. | “Greater equality had the effect that we now have competence in government decisions that we didn’t have before, when parliament was dominated by old-fashioned men who knew nothing about social reality,” she said. |
| Her first priority included increasing nurseries and day care for children, she said. Paternity leave came later. “My basic idea was that men and women should share rights and duties. The idea is that men should be real parents.” | Her first priority included increasing nurseries and day care for children, she said. Paternity leave came later. “My basic idea was that men and women should share rights and duties. The idea is that men should be real parents.” |
| Even with their increased clout, Swedish women still face many barriers, at work and at home. “Is the Last Mile the Longest” was the question posed in the title of a May 2018 report on “Economic Gains From Gender Equality in Nordic Countries,” by the O.E.C.D. The report concluded that while the Scandinavian countries have come closer than other countries to narrowing the gender gap, the challenge to closing it altogether remains stubbornly difficult. | Even with their increased clout, Swedish women still face many barriers, at work and at home. “Is the Last Mile the Longest” was the question posed in the title of a May 2018 report on “Economic Gains From Gender Equality in Nordic Countries,” by the O.E.C.D. The report concluded that while the Scandinavian countries have come closer than other countries to narrowing the gender gap, the challenge to closing it altogether remains stubbornly difficult. |
| In recent years, some have argued that Sweden’s reputation as the best in the class on gender equality has slipped. In 2007, Sweden ranked No. 1 on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report; now it is in third place. Many fathers still resist taking an equal share of the generous 480 days of parental leave provided at the birth of a child, leaving mothers to assume the greater responsibility for child care and house work, studies show. The wage gap between men and women is still there (women get 88 percent of men’s wages) and in 2016, only 6 percent of chief executive positions in listed companies where held by women and 5 percent of board chairmanships. | In recent years, some have argued that Sweden’s reputation as the best in the class on gender equality has slipped. In 2007, Sweden ranked No. 1 on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report; now it is in third place. Many fathers still resist taking an equal share of the generous 480 days of parental leave provided at the birth of a child, leaving mothers to assume the greater responsibility for child care and house work, studies show. The wage gap between men and women is still there (women get 88 percent of men’s wages) and in 2016, only 6 percent of chief executive positions in listed companies where held by women and 5 percent of board chairmanships. |
| “We still have a lot to do,” said Ms. Lindhagen, who has set efforts to combat domestic violence and to increase women’s economic power as her top priorities as a member of Sweden’s new coalition government. | “We still have a lot to do,” said Ms. Lindhagen, who has set efforts to combat domestic violence and to increase women’s economic power as her top priorities as a member of Sweden’s new coalition government. |
| Sweden has resisted the move to legislate the kind of quotas for women in top corporate positions adopted in neighboring Norway in 2003, followed later by France, the Netherlands and Spain. Ms. Lindhagen said the emphasis still should be on improving working conditions so that women can thrive and be promoted. “Then if it isn’t happening, if it is taking too long, then I could say we should look at quotas,” she said. | Sweden has resisted the move to legislate the kind of quotas for women in top corporate positions adopted in neighboring Norway in 2003, followed later by France, the Netherlands and Spain. Ms. Lindhagen said the emphasis still should be on improving working conditions so that women can thrive and be promoted. “Then if it isn’t happening, if it is taking too long, then I could say we should look at quotas,” she said. |
| Voluntary quotas for women candidates were adopted over the years by Sweden’s political parties, but according to Ms. Dahl, the important work was done before quotas. “First we laid the groundwork to facilitate men’s entry into politics,” she once stated. “We prepared the women to ensure they were competent, and we prepared the system, which made it a little less shameful for the women to step aside.” | |
| But numbers don’t tell the whole story. In France, where the president, Emmanuel Macron, in 2017 named a cabinet divided equally between men and women, journalists and other observers note that the top staff in the ministries, and in the presidency itself, are male dominated. | But numbers don’t tell the whole story. In France, where the president, Emmanuel Macron, in 2017 named a cabinet divided equally between men and women, journalists and other observers note that the top staff in the ministries, and in the presidency itself, are male dominated. |
| The same is often true in the top reaches of power in Sweden, according to Cecilia Schelin Seidegard, who in 2015 headed an inquiry into the gender gap. ”Our reports show that the more hidden the positions of power in politics and private business, the greater is the gender gap,” she wrote then. | The same is often true in the top reaches of power in Sweden, according to Cecilia Schelin Seidegard, who in 2015 headed an inquiry into the gender gap. ”Our reports show that the more hidden the positions of power in politics and private business, the greater is the gender gap,” she wrote then. |
| After the rise of the Sweden Democrats, the populist nationalist party, in the 2014 general elections, there were attempts to chip away at some of the women’s gains. Ms. Lindhagen cited the example of individual taxation, a Swedish reform seen as a boon to the underemployed that allows married couples to file separate tax returns, which conservatives parties recently tried to roll back. | After the rise of the Sweden Democrats, the populist nationalist party, in the 2014 general elections, there were attempts to chip away at some of the women’s gains. Ms. Lindhagen cited the example of individual taxation, a Swedish reform seen as a boon to the underemployed that allows married couples to file separate tax returns, which conservatives parties recently tried to roll back. |
| Ms. Dahl attributes this backlash to “old-fashioned men” with resentments against immigrants and feminists. | Ms. Dahl attributes this backlash to “old-fashioned men” with resentments against immigrants and feminists. |
| “This is a very special type who has not been lucky in their lives,” she said. “It is an act of protest.” | “This is a very special type who has not been lucky in their lives,” she said. “It is an act of protest.” |
| But she and Ms Lindhagen insist that Sweden’s proudly held consensus on equal rights is still solid. “We are still united in wanting men and women to have equal opportunities,” Ms. Lindhagen said. | But she and Ms Lindhagen insist that Sweden’s proudly held consensus on equal rights is still solid. “We are still united in wanting men and women to have equal opportunities,” Ms. Lindhagen said. |
| As the new members of the Congress in the United States may come to discover, “united” is a key word for advancing on any national equal rights agenda. | As the new members of the Congress in the United States may come to discover, “united” is a key word for advancing on any national equal rights agenda. |