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Gender equality is one of the cornerstones of modern Swedish society. The aim
of Swedens gender equality policies is to ensure that women and men enjoy the
same opportunities, rights and obligations in all areas of life.
The overarching principle is that everyone, regardless of gender, has the right to
work and support themselves, 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.
In the Global Gender Gap Report 2013, Sweden is named as a world leader in
equality. The report, drawn up at the initiative of the World Economic Forum,
measures equality in the areas of economics, politics, education and health. It can
be read at: www.weforum.org .
Ideally, gender equality should reach and guide all levels of the Swedish
educational system. Its principles are therefore increasingly being incorporated
into education in Swedish preschools.
The aim is to give children the same opportunities in life, regardless of their
gender, by using teaching methods that allow each child to grow into a unique
individual. The issue of gender equality is addressed continuously throughout
elementary school to prepare students for further education.
Both mothers and fathers in Sweden are entitled to paid parental leave.
Parental leave
In Sweden, parents are entitled to 480 days of parental leave when a child is born
or adopted. This leave can be taken by the month, week, day or even by the hour.
Women still take most of the days in 2012, men took about 24 per cent of
parental leave.
For 390 days, the maximum parental allowance is SEK 946 (EUR 105.0, USD
137.0) a day, as of 2013. For the remaining 90 days, the daily allowance is SEK
180. Sixty days of leave are allocated specifically to each parent, and cannot be
transferred to the other. In addition, one of the parents of the new-born baby gets
10 extra days of leave in connection with the birth or 20 days if they are twins.
Parents who share the transferable leave allowance equally get a SEK 50 daily
bonus for a maximum of 270 days.
Adopting parents are entitled to a total of 480 days between them from the day
the child comes under their care. A single parent is entitled to the full 480 days.
Two main sections of the Discrimination Act deal with gender equality at work.
First, there is the requirement that all employers must actively pursue specific
goals to promote equality between men and women.
Second, the law prohibits discrimination and obliges employers to investigate
and take measures against any harassment. Employers must not unfairly treat
any employee or job applicant who is, has been or will be taking parental leave.
Jnkping County governor Minoo Akhtarzand (left), one of many women leaders in the public sector.
Mutewatch founder Mai-Li Hammargren (right) is paving the way for women in the private sector.
After the 2010 election, 45 per cent of the places in the Swedish parliament were
taken by women, down from 47 per cent after the 2006 election the first fall in
this figure since the 1930s. At present, 13 of the 24 Government ministers are
women.
Gender mainstreaming
Women who need help can turn to the Swedish Association of Womens
Shelters(www.kvinnojouren.se ), or the National Organisation for Womens
and Young Womens Shelters (www.roks.se ). They can also ask for help from
any of approximately 130 local womens shelters located throughout Sweden.
Other organisations that work with issues regarding violence against women
include:
to violence. www.operationkvinnofrid.nu
The National Centre for Knowledge on Mens Violence Against Women, based
Gender-neutral language
The discussion in Sweden covers not only gender equality but also the gender
neutrality of language. This was seen during 2012 in a lively debate over the
gender-neutral personal pronoun hen, a newly minted word adopted by some
people as an alternative to the gender-specific hon and han, she and he.
Advocates say hen avoids the need to refer only to one gender or to use the
cumbersome inclusive form of he/she, while also opening up the language for
people who might not identify themselves as either male or female, or who wish
to avoid referring to themselves as one sex or the other.
Critics argue that the word dilutes and damages the Swedish language and leads
to confusion, particularly among children. Hen is being seen increasingly on
Swedish websites and in print.
1250s King Birger Jarl passes a law on violence against women prohibiting rape
and abduction.
1921 Women get the right to vote and run for office. The first five women to win
seats in parliament are Kerstin Hesselgren, Elisabeth Tamm, Agda stlund, Nelly
Thring and Bertha Wellin.
1974 Sweden becomes the first country in the world to replace maternity leave
with parental leave.
1999 The Act Prohibiting the Purchase of Sexual Services comes into effect.
2002 Parental leave increased to 480 days, with each parent entitled to two
months of non-transferable benefits.
2005 New legislation on sexual crimes further strengthens the absolute right of
every individual to sexual integrity and self-determination.
2011 Stalking repeated harassment becomes an offence. One aim of the law is
to further prevent male violence against women.
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EQUALITY (21) FACT SHEET (26) PEOPLE (25) PDF versions
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