Gender equality
The responsibility of the
entire Government
Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister
S
weden is one of the most gender-equal countries in the world.
We also have high ambitions for gender equality, which we
take with us into the world to strengthen women's rights
– even beyond Sweden's borders. It is a matter of the same right
to support yourself, of the right to your own body, of sexual and
reproductive health and rights, and of stopping men's violence against
women.
Two thirds of all work in the world is carried out by women and girls.
Half of all food is produced by women and girls. But women earn only
10 per cent of the world's incomes and own 1 per cent of the world's
assets. Denied rights for women is not only a loss to themselves, it also
means missed opportunities for economic development. Gender equality
is one of the greatest challenges of our time.
In Sweden, we want women and men to have the same ability to shape
society and their own lives. We are not there yet, but we have come a long
way. To a large extent, this is because we have created regulations and
structures that make it easier to combine work with starting a family. Our
generous parental insurance, our developed pre-school system and our tax
regulations mean that in Sweden you do not have to choose between work
and family. You can choose both. It is a matter of encouraging the incentives for work and increasing gender equality in working life.
Sweden currently has among the highest employment rates for women
in the entire OECD. Women in Sweden simply work more than women
in other countries. The number of women working full-time has also
increased, as has the proportion of female entrepreneurs. Today, parents
share their parental leave more evenly than ever before.
But there is more to be accomplished, and here everyone has to contribute:
politicians, industry, civil society – and you and me. Ultimately, it is a question of attitudes and will.
On the following pages, you can read more about what our government
ministers are doing for gender equality and how this is integrated into all
areas of policy.
equality is something
”Gender
that benefits everyone ”
Maria Arnholm, Minister for Gender Equality
I
have chosen to focus on three questions in particular: gender pay differentials, boys falling behind in school and
stopping men's violence against women.
Political action can achieve a lot in these
areas. We must work harder to promote gen­
der-equal parenting, bring about a fairer
distribution of unpaid housework and care
work, make schools better at catching all
who are falling behind and improve efforts
against violence so as to better identify and
help both the batterers and the battered.
In total, the Government has invested
over two billion kronor in gender equality
efforts. For example, we have ensured that
police and prosecutors have received better
training on violence in close relationships
and have focused on broad measures against
violence and oppression in the name of
honour. And more is planned. We are in the
process of improving the regulations against
forced marriage and of getting more men to
work in pre-schools. We are overhauling the
entire structure for how society meets women exposed to violence and we are gathering more knowledge about men and gender
equality and of how we, together with the
social partners, can create greater equality in
the labour market.
The objective of our work on gender
equality is to ensure that every individual
is able to live and achieve their full potential – irrespective of gender, class, sexuality
or ethnicity. This is not the case at present.
Preconceived notions about gender have far
4
ministry of education and research sweden
too great an influence on our lives. Remedying this is one of the most difficult and most
important political tasks.
Gender mainstreaming as a strategy
Our knowledge of the power of gender over
our lives is constantly increasing. For decades,
gender pay differentials have remained fun­
da­mentally unchanged. Today, there is a dif­
ference of 3.6 million kronor between the
lifetime earnings of an average man and
those of an average woman. We also know
that the difference in sick leave escalates
dramatically after a woman has given birth
to her first child. This unequal distribution
of unpaid care and household work can be
expressed as follows: every year, women
spend seven working weeks more than men
on cleaning, washing and the care of loved
ones. The list goes on.
There is no quick and easy solution to
eliminating this structure. However, there is
a strategy that has proven to be very effective indeed – gender mainstreaming. Gender mainstreaming is about integrating a
gender equality perspective into all areas of
policy. This is also the Government's principal strategy for gender equality work, and as
Minister for Gender Equality, I am respon­
sible for coordinating it.
Gender equality is a
matter of knowledge
250 miljoner
satsade regeringen på jämställdhetsintegrering
i kommuner och landsting runt om i landet
edge. In order to bring about a just society,
we not only need to learn about how the
organisation of society affects women and
men, but also how this affects people on
the basis of other perspectives. Without
that knowledge, we cannot change ourselves. Our goal is to be better able to make
decisions with all citizens in view – and all
the diversity this entails.
Here, the Government made an unprece­
dented investment when we distributed
a quarter of a billion kronor for gender
mainstreaming in local governments around
the country. This money has, for example,
made it possible to analyse why men were
over-represented among cataract patients,
why boys were falling behind in school,
which routes were snow removal priorities
and how elderly people with broken hips
were received.
The knowledge yielded by this analysis
has supported many local governments in
reorganising their work to become better at
attending to citizen needs. Cataract operations are now more evenly spread between
men and women, boys' grades have risen,
snow removal is better adapted to the needs
of women and men, and elderly women
with broken hips have received better care.
This work puts the finger on the most
important thing about gender equality
efforts – that gender equality is something
that benefits everyone.
FACTS
The Government's work is based on
the following subgoals for gender
equality policy.
• Equal distribution of power and in-
fluence. Women and men shall have
the same rights and opportunities to
be active citizens and to shape the
conditions for decision-making.
• Economic equality between the
sexes. Women and men shall have
the same opportunities and conditions with regard to education and
paid work that provide them with the
means to achieve lifelong economic
independence.
• Equal distribution of unpaid care and
household work. Women and men
shall take the same responsibility for
household work and have the same
opportunities to give and receive care
on equal terms.
• Men’s violence against women must
stop. Women and men, girls and
boys, shall have equal rights and
opportunities in terms of physical
integrity.
Fundamentally, gender equality is not a
matter of opinion, it is a matter of knowlministry of education and research sweden
5
For me, it goes without saying that
”everyone
– regardless of gender –
should be able to move freely in
society and be safe in their homes
without fear of falling victim to crime Beatrice Ask, Minister for Justice
S
”
has, for example, commissioned the Crime
weden must be a country where peoVictim Compensation and Support Authorple can live in safety. Women and
ity to train personnel within the judicial
men should dare to move freely in
system to improve the treatment of victims
society, be safe in their homes and be confiof sexual crimes.
dent that the judicial system is doing its
utmost to provide victims of crime with
Violence in close relationships
support and protection and to help them
obtain redress. The goal of criminal policy
It is primarily women who are subjected
is to reduce crime and increase security. Exto violence, threats and harassment by a
posure to crime differs somewhat between
person with whom they have or have had
women and men. For example, women run
a partner relationship. This violence is
a greater risk than men of being subjected
a social problem. In order to strengthen
to violence in their own homes, while men
penal protection against violence in close
run a greater risk of being assaulted by
relationships, the Government has recently
someone they do not know. Men also comimplemented amendments regarding the
mit crimes to a greater
crimes of gross violaextent than women do,
tion of integrity and
Trots att kvinnor upplever större
and the overwhelming
gross violation of a
otrygghet än män så har de övermajority of those in
woman’s integrity. The
lag ett något större förtroende
prison are men.
minimum penalty has
för rättsväsendet än män
been increased, and
Women feel more
these gross violations
insecure but have greater confidence
of integrity now include more types of
in the judicial system than men
crime than before. To improve the situation of persons who have been subjected
The objective of the judicial system is the
to violence, threats and harassment, we
legal rights of the individual and the rule of
implemented a reform to strengthen the
law. Despite the fact that women experience
function of non-contact orders and progreater insecurity than men, they generally
posed a change in the rules to make it eashave slightly more confidence in the judicial
ier to impose non-contact orders concernsystem than men. Confidence is something
ing joint dwellings. The National Police
that our authorities must nurture well. For
Board has been instructed to carry out an
this reason, the agencies responsible for the
information campaign concerning crimes
judicial system are, among other things,
in close relationships, including violence
promoting the better treatment of particuand oppression in the name of honour, so
larly vulnerable groups. The Government
6
ministry of justice sweden
vi ser en minskning av
otryggheten i samhället
under senare år.
det gäller bl.a. kvinnors
oro för att utsättas
för misshandel eller
överfall.
Andel kvinnor och män
som uppger att de ofta är
oroliga för att utsättas för
misshandel eller överfall.
män
kvinnor
Källa: Nationella
trygghetsundersökningen
have in many cases been based on men's
that more people will have the confidence
needs. However, convicted women generand willingness to report crimes. The Govally have a more vulnerable and troubled
ernment has also appointed Carin Götblad,
life situation than convicted men and are
former Chief Commissioner, Stockholm
also in an otherwise
County Police Departdifficult situation with
ment, as national coorBland cheferna inom
regard to employment
dinator against violence
Polisen har andelen kvinnor
and finances, among
in close relationships.
mer än fördubblats den
other things. The GovThis task includes supsenaste tioårsperioden
ernment has therefore
porting the relevant
taken the initiative
agencies, local governto improve the conditions of convicted
ments and organisations to increase the
women regarding, e.g. the possibility of getefficiency, quality and long-term nature of
ting and holding down a job after release.
the work.
Sexual crime
Gender equality within the authorities
A large proportion of those subjected to
sexual crimes are women. To further tighten legislation and enhance the protection
of sexual integrity and sexual self-determination, amendments have recently been introduced to the legislation on sexual crimes.
For example, the crime of rape has been
expanded to criminalise more cases of sexual
exploitation through replacing the concept
of “helpless state” with the broader concept
of “particularly vulnerable situation”.
The authorities in the legal chain should
reflect society. The authorities need to find
more ways to recruit and retain both women
and men. It is positive that the proportion
of women in, e.g. the Police continues to increase. Over the last decade, the proportion
of women police officers has increased from
19 per cent to 29 per cent. Among chiefs of
police, the proportion of women has more
than doubled over the last decade and currently stands at 25 per cent. The proportion
of women among agency heads within the
Courts of Sweden increased from 25 per cent
in 2010 to 30 per cent in 2012.
Convicted women a minority in the
custody of the Swedish Prison and
Probation Service
Women represent a minority among those
in the custody of the Swedish Prison and
Probation Service. This has led to a situation where the initiatives implemented
ministry of justice sweden
7
Since we implemented a more
”
transparent and open appointments
policy the proportion of agency
heads who are women has
increased markedly ”
antalet kvinnor och män
bland myndighetschefer
som regeringen anställt
sedan år 2004.
totalt
män
kvinnor
Stefan Attefall, Minister for Public Administration and Housing
G
Since 2006, the Government, which apovernment agencies are im­
points agency heads – such as Directorsportant actors for promoting
General, Vice-Chancellors and museum
greater gender equality in the
directors – has been promoting a more
labour market. The agencies are themtransparent and predictable appointments
selves responsible for recruiting, employpolicy. In practice, this means that the
ing, wage setting and developing their perrecruitment of agency heads is now almost
sonnel. Today, central government is the
entirely
conducted
sector with the most
through the use of
even gender distribuStaten är i dag den sektor
tion in the labour marsom har jämnast könsfördelning candidate profiles and
through open adverket – in 2012, the propå arbetsmarknaden
tisements. The prinportion of women was
cipal rule today is that
51.6 per cent. That same
agency heads are recruited after first havyear, more than 243 000 people were eming registered their interest. This allows
ployed in the central government sector,
anyone who is interested to apply for the
representing about 5 per cent of all those
job.
employed in the Swedish labour market.
Efforts to increase the number of female
For the sake of public confidence, it is
agency heads have produced results. Today,
important that those who are employed
46.5 per cent of all agency heads are women,
in central government reflect the populawhich is an increase of 14 percentage points
tion it serves. This is why agencies should
since 2007. In Septemstrive both for diversity
ber 2013, there were 198
among their employees
På ordförandeposterna var
agency heads, and of
and for respectful and
andelen kvinnor 41 % och män
these 92 were women
dignified treatment of
59 % i de styrelser och insynsråd and 106 men.
the general public.
With regard to memAmong other things,
som regeringen utser
bers of boards and advithe Government has
sory councils appointed by the Government,
established the following subgoals for cena total of nearly 2 200 persons, 48 per cent
tral government employers.
•
were women and 52 per cent men in 2012.
The proportion of women holding
In the position of chair, 41 per cent were
senior posts in central government
women and 59 per cent men.
must increase.
•
There has also been an improvement in
Gender pay differentials in central
a broader managerial perspective. There are
government must decrease.
8
ministry of health and social affairs sweden
Statistical analysis from the Swedish
now approximately 5 600 female managers
Agency for Government Employers shows
in central government. The proportion of
that the pay differential is almost entirely
female managers has increased from 34 per
due to factors such as the job's degree of
cent in 2007 to 37 per cent in 2012. Disdiffi­culty and content, the fact
counting the Swedish Armed
that more women than men
Forces, where a structural
Vi ser också goda
work part-time and the fact
change influenced the gender
distribution of this group, the
resultat när det gäller that more men than women
are managers. The pay diffigures are 37 per cent in 2007
löneskillnaderna
ferential that finally remains,
and 43 per cent in 2012.
the ‘unexplained pay differWe are also seeing positive
ential’ that cannot be explained by the
results in terms of pay differentials. In 2007,
quantifi­
able information available, was
the average salary of women employed in
about 1.2 per cent in September 2012. Five
central government was 13.8 per cent lower
years earlier, the corresponding level was
than that of men. Five years later, this figure
about 1.3 per cent.
had fallen to 10.3 per cent. Thus the trend is
clearly moving in the right direction.
ministry of health and social affairs sweden
9
Everyone's rights
”
must be respected
regardless of gender, skin colour,
belief or sexual orientation ”
Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs
W
example is Sweden's work on UN Security
orking for a world of equality
Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace
is a fundamental principle of
and security. The Resolution was adopted
Swedish foreign policy. It is
in 2000 to highlight and address the huge
a world in which everyone's rights must be
impact armed conflicts have on women and
respected regardless of gender, skin colour,
girls. It stresses the importance of women
belief or sexual orientation.
who are affected by conflicts also being
The Statement of Foreign Policy deinvolved in their resolution and of women
clares that the Government must work for
being represented as
a world of equality.
actors in the internaThe
Government
tional community's
also emphasises genVi vill genom vår utrikespolitik
initiatives to bring
der equality as a key
främja ekonomisk utveckling som
about peace. The Res­­
element of Swedish
ger människor möjlighet att försörja
olution also states
human rights policy.
sig. Det är ett led i arbetet mot
that women and girls
The Swedish Foreign
marginalisering, våld och förtryck
are particularly vulService has a clear
nerable in conflict
responsibility in UN
situations, which means that they require
negotiations, EU-related work and relagreater protection.
tions with other countries to highlight and
address the oppression of women and girls.
The Government's action plan
Sweden therefore pursues issues concerning
to implement Security Council
the rights of women and girls in resolutions
Resolution 1325
processed by the UN General Assembly and
the UN Human Rights Council.
Sweden was among the first countries to
A lack of gender equality, exclusion,
adopt a national action plan to implement
violence and oppression are linked and most
UN Security Council Resolution 1325. The
often affect poor women and girls. Through
action plan now also includes Security
our foreign policy, we want to promote ecoCouncil Resolution 1820, which strengthens
nomic development that gives people the
commitments to protect women and girls
ability to support themselves. This is part
from sexual violence in conflicts.
of the work to combat marginalisation,
The action plan's three overall objectives
violence and oppression.
include having a larger proportion of womThe Government's efforts are manifesten participate in international peace-suped in many different ways. One concrete
port and security-building operations,
10
ministry for foreign affairs sweden
enhanced protection of women and girls
in conflict situations, and the full participation of women in peace efforts in conflict
areas.
The Government has tasked the Swedish
International Development Cooperation
Agency (Sida), the Folke Bernadotte Acad­
emy, the Swedish Civil Contingencies
Agency, the Swedish Armed Forces, the
National Police Board and the Swedish
Prison and Probation Service with annually
measuring, analysing and reporting on their
implementation of the national action plan.
•Sweden
Some tangible results of the action plan:
Moreover, at the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in
2011, Sweden and the Swedish Red Cross
undertook to promote interpretation and
application of international humanitarian
law without discrimination on the grounds
of gender.
A review of the national action plan was
initiated at the end of 2013.
The aim is for a newly revised action plan
to enter into force by January 2016.
The Government will continue to work
for these issues – nationally, regionally and
globally.
•In
2012 more women than men were
recruited through the Folke Bernadotte
Academy to peace- and security-building
operations.
•The perspective of Resolution 1325 is
prioritised when drafting Sweden's country strategies and the new results strategies
for conflict and post-conflict countries.
• As a partner country, Sweden is working
on NATO's policy to implement Resolution 1325 in its activities. Since early 2012
Sweden has held a position as Gender
Advisor at NATO Headquarters.
has helped evaluate the implementation of Resolution 1325 in operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
•Sweden has established the Nordic
Centre for Gender in Military Operations, a knowledge centre for genderrelated issues linked to military activities.
•The Folke Bernadotte Academy has
produced a training module based on
Resolutions 1325 and 1820 for international operations, which is to be made
available for all EU Member States.
ministry for foreign affairs sweden
11
FACTS
Sweden is one of Europe's primary
countries of destination for asylum
seekers. Effective asylum examination, where the gender equality
perspective permeates the asylum
process, gives those who are in need
of protection on account of their
gender a chance to begin a new life
here.
”
A fundamental part of
Swedish migration policy is to
safeguard human rights and
the equal value of all people ”
Tobias Billström, Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy
A
fundamental part of Swedish
be discriminatory or degrading towards, e.g.
migration policy is to safeguard
women in a way that entails persecution.
human rights and the equal value
There may also be customs or other reliof all people. As Minister for Migration and
gious, cultural or social norms that are so
Asylum Policy, it is therefore natural for me
severely injurious or degrading with regard
to emphasise gender equality in the area of
to a person of a particular gender that this
migration, not only nationally, but also withentails persecution. Swedish aliens legisin the framework of EU
lation contains several
cooperation and interprovisions on protecFörutom den kunskap
national cooperation in
tion against persecution.
general.
Among other things, it
och de kontaktnät som
People fleeing persegenereras, kan migration även is expressly stated that a
cution and poverty are
well-founded fear of perbidra till överföring av nya
vulnerable. Not least
secution based on gender
värderingar och idéer
women and girls are parconstitutes a ground for
ticularly vulnerable. But
refugee status.
migration can also contribute to promoting
The Swedish Migration Board must
gender equality. One of the objectives of
elucidate and observe the conditions
migration policy, besides safeguarding the
of women and men
right of asylum, is to strengthen the positive
development effects of migration through
The Government has worked diligently to
increased coherence between migration and
enhance the quality and the legal security
development. Sweden's policy for global
of the asylum process. There are several
development identifies migration flows as
policy documents and guidelines for the
one of six global challenges that are central
Swedish Migration Board that aim to give
to achieving the goal of furthering equitable
equal opportunities to every asylum seekand sustainable development.
er, regardless of gender, and to prevent
discrimination. For example, the Swedish
Persecution based on gender
Migration Board must elucidate and obconstitutes a ground for refugee status
serve the conditions of women and men.
The Government has continuously directed
A cornerstone of migration policy is to prothe Swedish Migration Board to draw parvide protection for people who have fled
ticular attention in its training to issues
persecution and oppression in their home
concerning women and to report on the
countries. In some countries, legislation can
12
ministry of justice sweden
work on women's conditions. A series of
gender equality training sessions and projects is in progress at the Board.
The Government sees that
migration can strengthen the
empowerment of women
The Government is also working to facilitate mobility across borders and to utilise
and take into account the developmental
effects of migration. In a world where
women make up about half the total number of migrants, migration can strengthen
the empowerment of women, especially
when this results in increased economic
opportunities. The increased income opportunities made possible by migration are
of great importance for development. In
addition to the knowledge and the contact
networks that it generates, migration can
also contribute to the transfer of new values
and ideas. In this regard, the experience of
returning migrants and diaspora groups can
contribute to greater gender equality.
However, women migrating from poor
conditions might run a particular risk of
falling into vulnerable situations, such as
human trafficking or workplaces where they
can be exploited. For this reason, there is a
need to strengthen women's opportunities
to safely and legally find their way onto the
global labour market. The Swedish labour
immigration regulations offer equal opportunities for men and women, and decent
working conditions, regardless of gender
and origin. International efforts are also
necessary to prevent discrimination against
migrants as well as their exploitation and
abuse.
Swedish Chairmanship of the Global
Forum on Migration and Development
Sweden has long been deeply involved in
promoting a global dialogue on migration
and development. Between January 2013
and June 2014, Sweden holds the Chairmanship of the Global Forum on Migration and
Development. Among the objectives are the
creation of a more development-oriented
forum and ensuring that the UN's work on
a new development agenda observes the
contributions of migration to development.
Sweden also promotes a deeper discussion
on labour migration, circular migration,
the knowledge transfer of diaspora groups,
investment and trade, as well as the contributions of migrants to health and education.
This work includes strengthening migrant
rights and empowerment with reference to
the different opportunities of women and
men.
ministry of justice sweden
13
It should be worth
”
getting an education, both
for men and for women ”
Jan Björklund, Minister for Education
O
increase: corresponding respectively to SEK
ur education policy is about
5 000 and 10 000 more per month.
equipping every child and young
The reform will be expanded in the comperson with skills for life. A good
ing years to provide more teachers with the
education opens perspectives and presents
opportunity to pursue a career and receive a
individuals with better opportunities. If
higher salary. Our plan is that in a few years
society is to make the most of everyone's
the reform will encompotential, schools must
pass about one in six
provide good conditions
Ska samhället ta till vara alla
trained teachers. This
for all students, regardmänniskors potential måste
is a means of creating
less of their gender, and
skolan ge goda förutsättningar
better conditions for
schools have an imporför alla elever oavsett kön
female university gradtant role in efforts to
uates in the public sector. It should be worth
counteract gender stereotypes. Moreover,
getting an education, both for men and for
the education system is a workplace for
women.
many adults.
Career opportunities in femaledominated occupations
A large majority of teachers are women.
Like many female-dominated academic
professions in the public sector, teaching
has long experienced a lack of career opportunities – in contrast to many professions
in the private sector.
To increase the attractiveness of the profession and allow more teachers to pursue
careers without leaving teaching and their
students, the Government has taken the
initiative for a unique investment. When
employers create new career paths – the two
levels of ‘senior subject teachers’ – for really
good teachers, central government will contribute funds so that the teachers awarded
these posts will receive a substantial pay
14
ministry of education and research sweden
Anti-swot culture in boys
The school system has long been characterised by gender differences. The performance of boys in schools is generally worse
than that of girls, and there is a kind of
anti-swot culture in boys, where there is
prestige in refraining to study rather than
in being successful. At the same time, girls
of school age feel worse than boys do. Moreover, the choice of upper secondary and
higher education is gender stereotyped.
A first step towards greater gender
equality in schools is to raise awareness of
the problems that exist. For this reason,
the Government appointed a Delegation
for Gender Equality in Schools (DEJA).
DEJA's mission was to produce and develop
knowledge about various gender equality
15
In countries where women are
”
not allowed on the labour market
35 %
you lose half the population's
intellectual capital ”
av de nyrekryterade
professorerna är kvinnor
issues. Study habits were investigated, as
were the conditions of girls and boys, and
methods for breaking gender patterns. For
many years, gender equality initiatives have
primarily focused on girls and women, but
DEJA also highlighted the need for measures relating to boys in schools.
DEJA's results have since spread in the
school system by such means as reports and
seminars. DEJA has thus helped to draw
more attention to gender issues in schools
and has increased knowledge about how to
improve gender equality.
Ewa Björling, Minister for Trade
FACTS
• From the 2016 autumn semester,
government subsidies will be
possible for salary increases corresponding to approximately 17 000
initial-level senior subject teachers.
but more must be done when several studies
show that the advancement of women in
higher education is inferior to that of men.
The Government
More female
places gender distriNaturligtvis är det en individs
professors
kunskaper och kompetens, inte bution requirements
on new professorships
It is, of course, an indikön, som ska vara avgörande
at every higher educavidual's knowledge and
för karriärmöjligheterna även
tion institution. These
skills, not gender, that
på universitet och högskolor
targets are intended
should also determine
to raise the ambition
career opportunities in
of achieving a more even gender distribuhigher education.
tion among all professors as compared with
Women are very much gaining ground
today, and every higher education instituin academia. Among students, women have
tion has to report and analyse its perforlong been in the majority. Of those who
mance annually.
have done doctorates, women are close to
I believe that raising expectations based
half, and the proportion of women among
on each institution's circumstances is the
research and teaching staff in higher educaright path towards greater gender equality
tion is increasing.
in academia and thus better conditions for
Among professors, the highest post, geninternationally competitive research and
der distribution has slowly improved, and
education.
now 35 per cent of newly appointed professors are women. This is better than before,
16
ministry of education and research sweden
O
an election process four years ago, in 2009,
n official trips, I often come in
the Board of Directors gained its first female
contact with people in countries
member. This has inspired more women
that do not have the same develto stand for election to the Board. Today,
oped view of gender equality that prevails in
Dr Lama Al Sulaiman is Vice Chair of the
Sweden. When visiting countries in which
Chamber, and I have met her several times,
women are not given the same opportuniboth in Saudi Arabia and in
ties as men in working life,
Sweden, to discuss trade isI always point out that if
Våra handelsrelationer
sues and the participation of
women are not allowed to
erbjuder en god platwomen in working life. She
participate in the labour
market then you lose the tform för att påverka ut- believes that things are probenefit of half the popula- vecklingen av samhället gressing, but are progressing
slowly. Our trade relations
tion's intellectual capital.
offer a good platform for influencing the
I have chosen two examples from the
development of society.
Gulf Region. There, women are not exThe second example is an organisation
pected to participate in public life in the
called W4SG – Women For Sustainable
same way as men, despite the fact that more
Growth. The organisation is based in Swewomen than men have higher education
den and in the United Arab Emirates. Those
in this part of the world. I often make sure
of us on the trade side of the Ministry for
of the opportunity to meet these women,
Foreign Affairs work closely with them, as
who might be anything from members of a
do Lund University, Zayed University and
Saudi rock band to ministers in the region,
several other companies and organisations.
and we discuss working life and the situaThe idea behind this cooperation is to offer
tion of women in our respective countries.
a meeting place, particularly for businessTrade relations –
women and women who work for governa platform for influence
ment agencies and other organisations. The
key words are: Female Leadership – SustainThe first example is the Jeddah Chamber of
able Living – Bridging Cultures. There is an
Commerce & Industry in Saudi Arabia. The
explicit dimension of business and trade,
Chamber opened in the 1940s and is today
and we support the organisation wholeunique in Saudi Arabia because businessheartedly.
women are allowed to be members. Through
ministry for foreign affairs sweden
17
The economic policy
”
we have pursued since 2006 has
made Sweden better, also
in terms of gender equality Anders Borg, Minister for Finance
T
”
increased disposable income. Less well
he Government's overarching obknown is the fact that the expected impact
jective of economic gender equalis greater for women than for men, which
ity policy is for women and men
ultimately improves the conditions for ecoto have the same power to shape society and
nomic equality between the sexes. This has
their own lives. They shall also have the same
been a deliberate strategy on the part of the
opportunities and conditions with regard to
Government.
education and paid work that provide them
In recent years, the Government's efforts
with the means to achieve lifelong economic
to improve the incentives for work and to
independence.
reduce exclusion have contributed to better
I believe that achieving these goals will
conditions for economic equality between
require a determined and sustained policy.
the sexes in many areas.
A gender equality perspecThanks to the in-work tax
tive must be an integral
Det har blivit mer lönsamt
credit, it has become more
part of the daily work of
för alla att gå från utanförworthwhile for everyone
those involved in politiskap till arbete tack vare
to move from exclusion to
cal decision-making at all
jobbskatteavdraget
work. Since the improvelevels and at all stages.
ment in relative terms has
It is still the case that
been greatest for low- and middle-income
women earn less than men and work partearners, it has meant that the incentives
time to a greater extent. Women continue
for work have been strengthened more for
to assume a greater responsibility for unpaid
women than for men.
household work and have higher levels of
The distribution of unpaid care and
parental leave and sick leave. This higher
household work is closely related to the
rate of part-time employment and work
ability of women and men to combine parabsence that women have is a crucial factor
enthood and family life with professional
in economic inequality between the sexes.
employment. For this reason, the GovIncreased opportunities for economic
ernment has created better conditions for
equality between the sexes
women and men to assume responsibility for unpaid care and household work on
Ever since the Government took office in
equal terms. The possibility of tax relief for
2006, the work-first principle has been the
household services has this aim in view.
core of economic policy. It must be worthNo country in the EU has such a large
while to work, and exclusion must decrease.
proportion of working women as Sweden.
This leads to more people looking for work,
This proportion has been maintained durmore jobs, fewer people in exclusion and
18
ministry of finance sweden
år 2012 tjänade
kvinnor
86 %
av männens löner
men's wages. Even after adjusting for differences in education, profession, age, working
hours and sector, the difference was still
6 per cent. All employers are required to
counteract unwarranted pay differentials
and, here, active measures such as mapping wages are an important
Mapping wages an
instrument. Therefore, the
En viktig utmaning
important instrument
Government is now reviewA major future challenge is framöver är att motverka ing how these active mea­
sures can become more efto counteract involuntary
det ofrivilliga deltidsarfective. The social partners
part-time employment. Bebetet
also have a major responing able to work part-time is
sibility for counteracting
important for many, and it is
structural pay differentials.
not desirable to have legislation that keeps
The economic policy we have pursued
those wishing to work part-time out of the
since 2006 has made Sweden better, also in
labour market. However, there are several
terms of gender equality. However, a great
methods for being able to offer full-time
deal remains to be done, not least in terms
employment to those who want this.
of involuntary part-time employment and
Another challenge is that pay differenpay differentials. We all have a responsibiltials are not shrinking fast enough.
ity to take these challenges seriously.
In 2012, women earned 86 per cent of
ing the crisis and is now at the same level as
when the crisis began in 2008. Since 2006,
gender pay differentials have decreased by
0.5 percentage points. In the same period,
men's withdrawal of parental benefit has
increased by 4 percentage points.
ministry of finance sweden
19
Sustainable development must
”
build upon gender equality and
increased influence for women ”
Lena Ek, miljöminister
G
A non-toxic environment is essential
ender and gender equality confor sustainable development
cern all policy areas, also that of
environmental policy. There are
In its priorities for chemicals policy, the
fundamental structural differences in the
Government has focused on identifying,
opportunities of women and men to shape
limiting and phasing out hazardous chemtheir own lives, and this is also reflected
icals in people's everyday environment.
in environmental policy. Environmental
Since 2011, the Swedish Chemicals Agency
policy is very much based
has had a four-year govon the active participaernment assignment to
Min ambition är att det
tion of all citizens, women
produce and implement
and men, young and old.
an action plan for a toxicska vara enkelt, billigt och
My ambition is for it to
free everyday environroligt att leva miljövänligt
be simple, cheap and fun
ment. It is clear that much
i hela Sverige
to live an environmenof the Government's work
tally friendly life in the
in the chemicals area
whole of Sweden – in sparsely-populated
specifically benefits women – especially
areas, in smaller population centres, in subwomen of child-bearing age. Due to the
urbs and in our cities. Through an active
presence of many hazardous and toxic
and forward-looking environmental policy
substances in our environment, there are
that finds solutions to both international
many recommended limit values for varand local environmental problems, Sweden
ious substances in foods that are specifiwill be the country where it is easiest,
cally intended for women of child-bearcheapest and most fun to be environmening age. It is therefore important that the
tally friendly.
Government has a high level of ambition
My goal is also that Sweden will continfor achieving a non-toxic environment,
ue to be one of the world's leading environnot least so that women should not have
mental nations. The Government has, inter
to be limited in their choice of foods for a
alia, in the area of climate and energy, amlarge part of their lives.
bitious targets for Sweden's vehicle fleet to
Gender equality and
be independent of fossil fuels by 2030 and
sustainable development
for net emissions of greenhouse gases to be
around zero in 2050. Much good has been
The Government's position is that equality
accomplished, but with respect to gender
between women and men, girls and boys is
equality and environmental policy, some
a prerequisite for sustainable development.
things remain to be done.
In international development cooperation,
20
ministry of environment sweden
the issue of gender equality and climate
change is often raised. Sustainable development must build upon gender equality and
increased influence for women. Here, the
Government wants to improve the access
of women and men to water, energy, food,
education, jobs and health. This especially
improves the lives of women and girls in
Kvinnors och mäns livsstil
och konsumtion är kopplade
till de ekonomiska resurser
som de har tillgång till
developing countries because they are often responsible for supplying their families
with water, firewood and food, which reduces their access to schooling, healthcare
and paid work. To promote sustainable agriculture, there is a special focus on the need
to strengthen the role of women, in part
through their gaining access to technology
and land on equal terms with men. One key
issue is to strengthen the opportunities of
women to participate in decision-making
processes.
With confidence in technology, research,
market mechanisms and other economic
instruments, Sweden will lead the way
among industrialised countries towards
growth that is in harmony with the limits set by the environment. In Sweden, we
are making increasing use of the market
as an arena for political choices, such as
FACTS
The Network of Women Ministers
and Leaders for the Environment
(NWMLE) was formed in 2002 as
an informal network of female environment and deputy environment
ministers with a view, inter alia, to
meet and discuss current issues
related to the environment/climate
and gender equality. Since December
2012, I have served as co-chair of
the Network together with the South
African Deputy Minister of Water and
Environmental Affairs. The Network
meets two to three times per year in
conjunction with major international
environmental and climate meetings.
In 2013, a meeting was held in
conjunction with the UNEP Governing
Council in Nairobi, Kenya, and a second meeting was held in connection
with the COP19 climate negotiations
in Warsaw, Poland.
ministry of environment sweden
21
regeringen har som målsättning
att år 2050 ska nettoutsläppet
av växthusgaser
vara runt
0%
boycotting certain goods and opting for
organic or Fairtrade products. Women
make such choices more often than men.
The lifestyle and consumption patterns of
women and men are linked to the financial
resources they have access to, but it is also
a question of attitudes, moral and ethical
values and how they relate to other people
and nature.
Although Swedish households in many
contexts express a high level of environmental awareness, environmental awareness
22
ministry of environment sweden
is generally higher among women than men.
Women, younger people and the highly educated tend to experience threats to the environment as more serious than do men, older
people and those with …a low education.
One important measure for strengthening general environmental awareness is
to focus on the needs of girls and boys for
knowledge and education about the environment and climate change. There is reason
to emphasise the link between behaviour
and environmental impact.
23
Studies demonstrate strong
”
links between gender equality
and poverty reduction ”
Hillevi Engström,
Minister for International Development Cooperation
G
mental rights. Women and men must take
ender equality is a goal in itself
part on equal terms and have the same inand a prerequisite for long-term
fluence in political processes. Women being
democratic development, povgiven a place in politics also increases the
erty reduction and global development.
prospects of the rights of women and girls
As Minister for International Developbeing respected.
ment Cooperation, I therefore consider it a
Improving women's health is a pre­
matter of course that gender equality and
requisite to enabling women to exert powomen's role in development comprise
litical influence. A large
one of our priorities in
proportion of maternal
development cooperaKvinnor tenderar i mycket
mortality cases around
tion. Gender equality
högre utsträckning än män att
the world are the result
should also remain key
of a lack of access to conwithin the framework
investera i sina familjers och
traceptives and adequate
of Sweden's policy for
lokalsamhällens välfärd
maternity care, but are
global development.
also due to unsafe and illegal abortions.
Gender mainstreaming
Providing for the sexual and reproductive
in development cooperation
health and rights (SRHR) of women and
girls is therefore a decisive health issue.
The Government has strict requirements that
More women in politics could help ensure
the gender equality perspective must permethat the health of women and girls is given
ate both normative and operational develophigher priority.
ment cooperation. In practice this means that
Women's participation is also a prereqthe rights, conditions and social position of
uisite for strengthening their economic
women and girls must be taken into considrights. Ownership and user rights for land,
eration in relation to those of men and boys.
opportunities to support themselves, ecoGender mainstreaming is therefore applied
nomic participation and active involvement
in the Government Offices and in the bilatare fundamental for strengthening the
eral and multilateral development assistance
empowerment of women.
of Sida and other relevant government
agencies.
Women's participation
makes a difference
A democratic form of government includes
all citizens and safeguards everyone's funda-
24
ministry for foreign affairs sweden
When gender equality increases,
poverty decreases
Studies demonstrate strong links between
gender equality and poverty reduction.
Women, to a much greater extent than
men, tend to invest in the welfare of their
families and local communities, an investment which helps to reduce future poverty. This is particularly true with regard to
children's schooling and health. Therefore,
in terms of development, it is crucial to
increase women's opportunities to support
themselves.
What has Swedish development
assistance helped to achieve?
Important results have been achieved with
the help of Swedish development assistance.
This illustrates that aid can make a real difference for women and girls in our world.
• Through combined support to the ministry of health and a civil society organisation in Bangladesh, Sweden has contributed to a reduction in maternal mortality
by 75 per cent during the past decade. The
reduction is largely because fewer unsafe
abortions have been conducted, thus
demonstrating the significance of SRHR
efforts.
• In the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Swedish support to UNICEF has contributed to the percentage of women who
receive care for obstetric complications
increasing from 37 per cent in 2010 to 61
per cent in 2012.
• In Ethiopia, Swedish support to the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
has made it possible to increase the number of midwives from 1 275 in 2008 to
4 725 in 2012. This is a very important step
•
•
•
•
towards reaching Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 of significantly reducing maternal and child mortality. In addition, the UNFPA has strengthened and
expanded midwife training in 30 poor
countries and the capacity for emergency
obstetric and neonatal care at local level
in 32 poor countries.
The UNFPA has also contributed to 95
poor countries having designed, implemented and evaluated sexual education
programmes, and to as many countries
having strengthened their capacity to
reach out with sexual and reproductive
health/medical care to young people.
In several cases, support is provided to
women human rights defenders who need
training on how to use the internet as a
tool in their work and on how to protect
themselves so as not to expose themselves
to security risks when working in a digital
environment.
In Mali, Swedish development assistance
has contributed to improving women's
incomes and control over resources through
micro-finance initiatives and kitchen
gardens.
Through support to the Ethiopian chamber of commerce, via self-help groups and
access to micro-financing programmes,
8 300 women have started their own
businesses, leading to increased self-sufficiency.
ministry for foreign affairs sweden
25
me, gender equality
”is For
about rights, but also
about the benefits it brings.
Gender-equal activities are more
effective activities ”
Karin Enström, Minister for Defence
I
a major increase as compared to the years
want to describe the gender equality
with compulsory military service.
work falling within the remit of the
However, the proportion of women in
Ministry of Defence in two parts. The
the Swedish Armed Forces is still low, and
first part concerns how we are working to
the Government has, among other things,
increase gender equality within our agentasked the Armed Forces with pursuing decies and their activities. The second part
velopment work for gender mainstreaming.
concerns how Sweden can export gender
This is in part intended to increase the proequality in our international operations
portion of women at all levels within the
and collaboration.
Forces.
A radical reform with respect to gender
The proportion of women is also low in
equality has taken place within the Swedthe country's rescue services. The Swedish
ish Armed Forces in that they have been
Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) is workrecruiting both women and men on a voling actively to increase the proportion of
untary basis since 2010. The legislation on
women training to be firecompulsory military service
fighters at the country's
is dormant and gender neuVi vet av erfarenhet
schools for rescue services.
tral, which means that if it
att ett genderperspektiv
In order to reach the whole
were to be activated, both
ökar effekten av våra
of society with knowledge
women and men would
internationella insatser
of, e.g. preventive measures,
be under the obligation to
rescue service personnel
perform military service.
must better reflect the general population.
Because compulsory military service is not
This is a prerequisite for citizen confidence
applied, the Swedish Armed Forces compete
in important societal functions.
for labour with other employers. This places
high demands on the Armed Forces to be a
UN Security Council Resolution 1325
modern and attractive employer.
The Swedish Armed Forces are working acMore women are needed
tively to implement UN Security Council
Resolution 1325 on women, peace and seOf the approximately 33 000 applicants for
curity. Kungsängen outside Stockholm is
the Armed Forces' basic military training in
home to the Nordic Centre for Gender in
2013, about 20 per cent were women. When
Military Operations, which has quickly
we then look at who are nominated for the
gained international recognition. We know
approximately 4 500 training places, we see
from experience that a gender equality perthat this percentage is maintained. This is
26
ministry of defence sweden
20 %
av de cirka 33 000 personer som sökte till
försvarsmaktens grundläggande militära
utbildning under 2013 var kvinnor
spective increases the impact of our international operations. With women in both
civilian and military operations, we can
include the entire population in the work
for peace and security.
For me, gender equality is about rights,
but also about the benefits it brings.
Gender-equal activities are more effective
activities.
ministry of defence sweden
27
We will have a gender-equal
”
forest industry the day that women
and men have the same opportunity
to own and manage forests Eskil Erlandsson, Minister for Rural Affairs
T
he green industries still face major
challenges in terms of gender
equality. Gender mainstreaming is
the strategy chosen by the Government, and
I believe it to be eminently fit for this purpose. It is clear that this is a work that needs
to be continuously maintained. But as with
all work for gender equality, I also believe
that it is critical that those of us in leadership clearly demonstrate that the work is
important.
Gender equality strategy
for the forestry sector
One example I would like to highlight is our
work in the forest industry. Forests are very
important for the Swedish economy and
create jobs throughout the country. Today,
almost 100 000 people are employed in forestry and the forest industry. Of these, 16 per
”
cent are women and 84 per cent men. It is
thus a male-dominated industry.
In 2011, in collaboration with the industry, we presented a gender equality strategy
for the forestry sector: “Competitiveness
requires gender equality”. It contains a series
of measures and tasks to improve gender
equality in the forest industry and was produced in consultation between the forest
industry and the Government.
Work on the strategy has been in progress for a couple of years. The most recent
initiative came in autumn 2013 when I held
a high-level meeting, inviting representatives from decision-makers in the forestry
sector, industry associations and academia.
We had interesting discussions, and it also
became clear to me that there is an incredible amount to be done. At the meeting,
I issued the participants with two challenges:
firstly, to see how they can more explicitly
help to highlight women as role models in
the forest industry, and secondly to think
about how they personally can contribute to
advance the work of gender equality in their
organisations. I believe that leadership is a
key factor here.
We will have a gender-equal forest industry the day that women and men have
the same opportunity to own and manage
forests and to work at or run a company in
the forest industry. To come close to this, we
have much work ahead of us. But if nothing
else, we will do it for purely business reasons
– to be competitive, the green industries
need to harness the skills of the entire population.
FACTS
The national gender equality strategy
for the forestry sector consists of one
vision and three focus areas. The
focus areas are education, working
life and private forest ownership.
Each focus area has a goal, and
each goal has a number of associated
measures that the actors in the
forestry sector are to implement.
The Ministry for Rural Affairs performs an annual follow-up, with a
final follow-up in 2015. In addition
to this, the strategy's actors are invited to the Ministry for Rural Affairs
once a year for knowledge exchange
and reporting.
I arbetet med landsbygd och de gröna näringarna skulle jag vilja säga
att jämställdhetsarbetet närmast kan beskrivas som en överlevnadsfaktor.
Vi behöver tillgång till all den samlade kompetensen hos kvinnor och
män för att skapa konkurrenskraft
28
ministry for rural affairs sweden
ministry for rural affairs sweden
29
One of the goals is for
”
gender equality in the area of IT
to be greatly improved”
Anna-Karin Hatt, Minister for Information Technology and Energy
W
and girls. A way to do this is to implement
ithin my area of responsibility,
early initiatives in compulsory school that
I have two very male-domiparticularly encourage and support girls' innated fields: energy and IT.
terest in science, mathematics and technical
It is a challenging task to attract more
subjects. At the same time, the IT industry
women to want to study, work in and
in itself needs to create good career opporoccupy decision-making positions in the IT
tunities for women. The
and energy sectors. But
importance of achieving
it is necessary. Both the
a more gender-equal IT
IT and energy sectors are
Att könsfördelningen inom
developing strongly, and
it-området är så skev kan vara industry must not be a
Sweden is a world leader
negativ för it-utvecklingen eft- management issue alone,
in both. The fact that
ersom Sverige inte fullt ut tar till but needs to be an issue
that is natural for all levhalf Sweden's skills are
vara kraften i kvinnors delakels, not only in the form
then not being utilised is
tighet och kunskap på området of individual projects or
alarming.
something that is left to
One of the goals of
individual enthusiasts.
the Digital Agenda for Sweden that the
Over the years, I have taken initiatives
Government adopted in October 2011 is for
that aimed to highlight the issue of gengender equality in the area of IT to be greatly
der equality in the IT area, including conimproved.
ferences and seminars, and various surveys
Developments to increase the proporand analyses. The Digitisation Commission
tion of women in IT professions and IT
appointed by the Government to monitor
training are going slowly. The fact that genand drive the development of the Digital
der distribution in IT is so skewed has an
Agenda has gender equality as one of its
adverse effect on the development of IT
initiative areas, and I will continue to closely
since Sweden is not fully harnessing the
monitor developments in IT and gender
power of women's participation and knowlequality.
edge in the IT area.
If more women are to choose to work
Energy
in the IT industry, this gender distribution
must change, both for IT professionals and
The energy sector has long been a very
for IT-related programmes in higher edumale-dominated sector. At present, the
cation. One key is to increase interest in IT
industry is undergoing very strong expanand IT-related professions among women
sion and structural change, in part through
30
ministry of enterprise energy and communications sweden
20 %
var andelen kvinnor
i it-yrken år 2011
extensive investments in electricity grids
and a strong expansion of renewable electricity generation, particularly wind power.
Thanks to this, new companies and actors
are now entering the energy market, and
there is an increased focus on sustainability issues. Combined with a large number
of retirements, this opens the way for new
and younger people to come into the energy industry, especially women. But this will
not happen of its own accord. There will be
great demands on the industries to recruit,
promote and reward women so that women
stay, contribute and advance in those industries.
Among the agencies responsible for energy matters, gender equality is very good,
especially in senior posts. In the Government, we have tried to do our homework:
Of the four energy-related agencies, two are
headed by male directors-general and two
by female directors-general. When the Government appoints directors-general, inquiry
chairs, boards, advisory councils and expert
groups, we strive to achieve a balanced distribution of women and men. That there
are both women and men in senior posts is
also important for gender equality in general,
because this can inspire more women to
move towards these industries.
FACTS
• The proportion of women in IT
professions in 2011 was 20%
(source: Statistics Sweden).
• The proportion of women graduating
from an IT programme at the higher
education level in the academic
year 2011/2012 was 22%
(source: Swedish Higher Education
Authority).
• More girls than boys aged
16 to 24 use the internet daily
(source: Statistics Sweden).
ministry of enterprise energy and communications sweden
31
Health and medical care
”
is one of the most important parts
of our welfare system”
Göran Hägglund, Minister for Health and Social Affairs
T
he foundation of gender equality
is the equal value of all people.
All people are unique and valuable. And all people have something to contribute to society. This principle of human
dignity is the foundation for the Government's work in health and medical care
and economic family policy.
Health and medical care
ties in outcomes and in medical interviews.
Collaboration with care providers is an important success factor. For this reason, the
Government has signed several agreements
with the Swedish Association of Local
Authorities and Regions on stimulus and
support for measures in health and medical
care to increase equality, of which gender
equality is a part.
The Government's
Health and medical care
efforts for equitable
is one of the most imBemötande, vård och
care consist of five
portant parts of our
behandling ska erbjudas
focus areas
welfare system. It must
på lika villkor till alla
•
be of high quality, availVisibility and analyable to all who need it
sis of disparities in care,
and it must be suited to individual needs
treatment and medical interviews and in
and circumstances. Medical interviews,
outcomes.
• Systems, support structures and services
care and treatment must be offered on
equal terms to all. At the same time, refor healthcare and for individuals.
• Strategies and measures in specific areas.
search shows that there are differences
• Support and stimulus for developing care.
in health and morbidity between women
• Interaction and dialogue with healthcare
and men. Medically unwarranted disparities between women and men have been
actors, citizens and patients.
demonstrated regarding access to investigation and treatment for several different
Based on these focus areas, the Governdiseases. Unwarranted disparities in care
ment has implemented special initiatives
can never be accepted, such as the fact
to increase equality in healthcare in several
that certain advanced drugs are more
areas. All of this work is described in the
often made available to men than to
Strategy for a good and more equitable care
women, even though they would benefit
2012–2016. The attention surrounding diffrom them equally.
ferences in treatment between women and
The Government's work for more
men has meant that, today, care in many
equitable care partly involves monitoring
areas is more gender equal than before, one
the development of unwarranted dispariexample being cardiovascular care.
32
ministry of health and social affairs sweden
One of the tools used by the Government
anteeing care on equal terms. The Governand county councils to analyse inequalities
ment's implementation of the Strategy for
and to pursue the development of quality
a good and more equitable care 2012–2016
and efficiency in health and social care is
is an urgent part of this work, and the investOpen Comparisons. Open Comparisons
ments in Open Comparisons are a valuable
have helped to make care inequalities visible
instrument for increasing access to compain a whole new way and are helping to betrable information on quality, outcomes and
ter address the challenges in this area.
costs, broken down by gender.
Open Comparisons consist of indicators
Economic family policy
that show developments and direction over
time regarding the effiThe responsibility of both
ciency and quality of the
parents for their children
Att utgå från båda
various aspects of health
is a self-evident point of
föräldrarnas ansvar för
and medical care, such
departure for modern
barnen är en självklar del
as outcomes, patient exfamily policy. Financial
i en modern familjepolitik
perience, availability and
support to families should
costs. The Government's
improve the conditions for
investments in quality improvement by
gender equality. The reforms implemented
means of Open Comparisons have yielded
by the Government underline this. Parental
several positive results. These include the
insurance, i.e. parental benefit, pregnancy
increased transparency of health and medibenefit and temporary parental benefit, offcal care, their use as a basis for public debate
sets much of the loss of income during paand their stimulation of increased learning
rental leave and, together with the equality
and improved care outcomes. The eighth
bonus, creates good conditions for both
report in the series Open Comparisons was
parents to maintain their attachment to the
submitted in autumn 2013, presenting 162
labour market while being at home with
indicators. 73 per cent of these indicators
their children when they are small.
show an improvement for women and 80
The equality bonus is a clear example of
per cent show an improvement for men.
the Government's ambition to strengthen
The Government's efforts to increase
parents' equal responsibility for children.
the availability and quality of health and
Its purpose is to encourage an even distrimedical care constitute an important supbution of parental leave between women
port in the work for greater gender equality
and men, which is an important prereqin health and medical care. Gender equality
uisite for achieving economic equality
is a question of patient safety and of guarbetween the sexes. The equality bonus
ministry of health and social affairs sweden
33
13 500 kr
per barn i jämställdhetsbonus får hushåll
som delar lika på föräldraledigheten
was introduced on 1 July 2008. The way in
to family finances is also important, in orwhich a family chooses to divide responsider to meet parents' differing needs of supbility for its various tasks goes beyond the
port that are due in part to working hours
bounds of policy. However, it is the role of
and family situation. For example, there
policy to create conditions for women and
is the opportunity to share the care of a
men to assume responsibility for unpaid
sick child by means of temporary parental
care and household work
benefit. This exon equal terms. The
pands the potenSyftet med jämställdhetsequality bonus was simtial for consensus
plified from 1 January bonusen är att uppmuntra en jämn solutions between
2012 and is now linked
the parents, while
fördelning av föräldraledigheten
to the payment of pathe support also
mellan kvinnor och män, vilket är
rental benefit instead of
provides excellent
en viktig förutsättning för att
the previous application
opportunities
to
uppnå ekonomisk jämställdhet
requirement. When the
combine work and
parent who has utilised
the care of children.
the fewer number of days receives parenExamples of initiatives from the Governtal benefit, each parent receives an equality
ment in this connection are shared child
bonus of SEK 50 per day. A completely genallowance and the municipal childcare
der-equal use of parental benefit generates
allowance. The Government also intends
a combined bonus of SEK 13 500 per child.
to return with proposals for how to better
To improve the conditions for gendersupport parents in making their own child
equal parenting, flexibility of the support
maintenance agreements.
34
ministry of health and social affairs sweden
35
the underlying causes of
gender inequalities in the use
of sickness insurance
”
SJUKDAGAR/MÅNAD
I have given priority to
”
increasing knowledge about
kvinnor
män
Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Social Security
T
the child's birth, women's sickness absence is
he objective of Swedish sickness
about twice as high as men's on average. And
insurance is for the level of absence
this relates to personal illness, not absence
from work due to illness to be low
from work to take care of a sick child. The
and stable in the long term. Historically, this
difference in sickness absence then persists
has not been the case, especially for women,
for just over 15 years.
and the differences between women and men
Sweden thus appears to have significant
are, and have been, great. The Government
problems with gender equality that become
has implemented many reforms to reduce
manifest in sickness insickness absence – time
surance and have major
limits for sickness insurance, active work to re- Kvinnor och män har i princip implications for both
duce the risk of long-term en likvärdig sjukfrånvaro innan individuals and society.
första barnets födelse
One concern is that this
sick leave, etc. These have
affects income in the long
led to shorter sick leave
term. The opportunity of women to pursue
periods and to fewer adults going into early
a career may become impaired. In addition,
retirement. But the gender patterns that have
there is the risk that women as a group
existed for many, many years have not yet
become less attractive to employers. High
been broken: when sickness absence insickness absence in working life also leads to
creases, it does so more for women than for
lower pensions. It is a very serious problem
men.
that women have more sick leave than men,
Women's sickness absence higher
and we must seek the causes of why this is
than men's
the case and what we can do about it.
As minister, I have therefore given prior­
Women are still on sick leave to a far greater
ity to increasing knowledge about the under­
extent than men. Recent years have even seen
lying causes of gender inequalities in the use
women's share of sickness absence increase in
of sickness insurance. It is important that
scope. In December 2012, the sickness absence
the issue be taken seriously. Many people
of women was 75 per cent higher overall than
may have notions as to the reasons behind
that of men. The difference between women
women's sickness absence, but studies will
and men is established in earnest in the age
be able to give us proper facts. For this reason,
group 30–39 – the age group in which many
several assignments were issued just over a
people are living a family life with small
year ago in order to elucidate the issue from
children. Women and men have essentially
different perspectives. The completed asequivalent levels of sickness absence before
signments were presented in November 2013.
the birth of the first child. But two years after
36
ministry of health and social affairs sweden
Källa: IFAU (rapport 2011:2)
Increased knowledge about sickness
absence for women and men
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency was
tasked with describing sickness absence
over time for women and men becoming
first-time parents. The results indicate support for the idea that a double workload,
in the sense that women assume primary
responsibility for the home and family at
the same time as being gainfully employed,
may lead to an increased risk of sick leave.
Karolinska Institutet has investigated
whether women's child-bearing has links
with future morbidity and sickness absence.
With respect to days of sickness absence,
the results show that there are no major differences between women who have given
birth and women who have not given birth.
Hereditary and familial factors were found
to have significance for those who had not
given birth, but not among the women who
had given birth. An accompanying gender
equality analysis of sick leave patterns has
been carried out. Together, the results give
a complex picture of conceivable explanations for the gender inequality of sickness
absence. There is thus no single and easy
solution to resort to. My work on this issue
will continue.
therefore been instructed to gender mainstream its activities. There must be no unwarranted gender differences in processing
and decision-making. The Swedish Social
Insurance Inspectorate will also examine
the processing of sickness insurance matters from a gender equality perspective.
• The National Board of Health and Welfare
is scrutinising the medical insurance decision support tools used for assessing the
length of time for which a given diagnosis
requires sick leave. Should the recommendations be the same for women and men,
or there is reason for their being different
on medical grounds?
• Since 2010, the ‘Sick Leave Billion’ has increased awareness about the gender equality aspect in the sick leave process and in
the work on patients' sick leave. Tangible
methods for equivalent assessment and
treatment have been developed and disseminated in many county councils, such
as the ‘Gender Hand’ with respect to the
way patients are interviewed by healthcare
professionals.
Some examples of measures
•Uniform
processing is important for
counteracting unwarranted differences in
decisions on sickness insurance matters.
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency has
ministry of health and social affairs sweden
37
Violence in close relationships,
”
which unfortunately often affects
women, is a major social problem
that we must all join forces against
Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly
”
I
n my duties as Minister for Children
In 2007, the Government adopted the
and the Elderly, I prioritise the com“Action plan for combating men’s violence
bating of violence in close relationagainst women, violence and oppression in
ships. I consider this to constitute both
the name of honour and violence in samea serious problem of gender equality and a
sex relationships”. The plan included a large
major problem for society.
number of measures and specific activities
Every year, tens of
in several different areas.
thousands of people in
Among other things, the
Det krävs ökad helhetssyn
Sweden are exposed to
work has resulted in the
violence and other de- och förstärkt samarbete för att websites of agencies, local
grading treatment in
governments and volunmotarbeta våld mot kvinnor
close relationships. In
tary organisations posting
the previous and current
concrete information and
terms of office, the Government has allocated
advice to those who are or risk being subsubstantial resources to various measures
jected to violence. Today, almost 80 per cent
for achieving the goals of gender equality
of Sweden's municipalities have an action
policy, which includes the goal that men’s
plan for the work of their social services
violence against women must stop.
against violence in close relationships. Increased efforts are being made in the areas of
Measures to enhance protection
professional development, inventories, support and sheltered accommodation. Nearly
It will require a more comprehensive, intetwo thirds of the municipalities' compegrated approach and enhanced cooperation
tence-enhancing measures relate to trainto counteract violence against women. For
ing about battered women with disabilities
this reason, a national coordinator against
and an almost as large proportion relates
violence in close relationships has been
to violence against women over 65. Many
appointed to propose measures to enhance
municipalities and non-profit organisations
protection and support for the victims of
have also developed initiatives for groups
this crime. The coordinator will also colsuch as women who have suffered violence
laborate with relevant actors to spread and
in the name of honour and battered women
improve the impact of existing knowledge.
with abuse/addiction problems. The social
This task includes supporting agencies,
services regularly collaborate with external
local governments and organisations and
actors.
increasing the efficiency, quality and longterm nature of the work on violence in close
relationships.
38
ministry of health and social affairs sweden
FACTS
A number of agencies have been
tasked with producing and disseminating knowledge to relevant actors
and with allocating funds for method
development, including the National
Board of Health and Welfare, county
administrative boards and the Crime
Victim Compensation and Support
Authority. The National Centre for
Knowledge on Men's Violence Against
Women at Uppsala University has
a national mandate to develop and
disseminate evidence-based knowledge and information about men’s
violence against women, violence and
oppression in the name of honour and
violence in same-sex relationships.
39
The stories and experiences of
”
women and men should be equally
illuminated, portrayed and
represented in all areas of culture
Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth, Minister for Culture and Sport
E
veryone should have the opportunity to participate in cultural life.
This means that women and men,
girls and boys should have the same opportunities to access shared resources for creating and experiencing culture. In addition,
the stories and experiences of women and
men should, wherever possible, be equally
illuminated, portrayed and represented in
all areas of culture.
Gender mainstreaming
a priority for the agencies
To achieve the cultural policy objective of
everyone having the opportunity to participate in cultural life, all the agencies in
the area of culture will integrate a gender
equality perspective into their activities.
In addition to this, two cultural agencies,
the Swedish Arts Grants Committee and
Music Development and Heritage Sweden,
are part of the Government's development
programme to strengthen gender mainstreaming in government agencies.
The Government's special initiatives
for gender equality in cultural policy
During its previous term of office, the
Government implemented investments in
dramatic art that, among other things, resulted in management training for women.
Generally speaking, the number of female
managers has increased, particularly in the
area of theatre and dance. By way of example, the Royal Dramatic Theatre, the Royal
40
ministry of culture sweden
”
Swedish Opera, the International Scene of
Contemporary Dance/Sweden, Riksteatern
and Music Development and Heritage
Sweden (formerly Concerts Sweden and
the National Collections of Music) all had
a woman in their most senior posts in 2013.
In 2006, only one of these had a woman in
its most senior post.
The Swedish Arts Grants Committee reports that the percentage of women in the
artistic professions has increased, although
this figure varies depending on the area of
art. In the area of music, the number of
women among those applying for and receiving grants has increased substantially in
recent years. This is a positive development
in an area where the gender balance among
practitioners and creators has traditionally
been uneven in favour of men.
During the current term of office, we
have also made further investments to increase gender equality in the areas of film,
music and museums.
• In the area of music, Music Development
and Heritage Sweden supports projects to
increase gender equality in musical life,
strategically and in the long term. These
include training aimed at young female
musicians, mentoring programmes for jazz
organisers and support for informal networking among organisations that have
active gender equality work.
• In the area of film, there has been a focus
on the filmmaking of young women. The
goal is to achieve a greater balance between
men and women in the production of
Swedish film. The Swedish Film Institute
has provided support for regional projects
in the form of film courses for specific talent development programmes. The Film
Institute has also commissioned a survey
and study of the filmmaking of young
men and women. Among other things,
the study shows that there is a need for increased gender awareness in the country's
film programmes and for initiatives to support newly graduated filmmakers.
• In the area of museums, there has been an
in-depth survey of how gender issues are
taken into account in museum exhibitions
and in the work with museum collections.
The survey has contributed to the creation
of a digital platform that adds gender-related information to museum collection systems. New methods have been developed
for revising an exhibition from a gender
perspective. Knowledge-enhancing measures have also been implemented, such as
management training for greater gender
equality and diversity in museums, art and
cultural institutions. For example, Moderna
Museet prioritises female artists in its exhibitions.
Thanks to gender mainstreaming and
the special initiatives, awareness of gender
equality issues has increased. Several gender
equality projects have been carried out with
good results, leading to a great deal of media
coverage about issues of gender equality and
equivalent representation.
FACTS
Gender equality initiatives in the
area of culture
During 2011–2014, special funds
and assignments have gone to:
• The Swedish Film Institute to
improve the conditions for the
filmmaking of young women
(SEK 6.5 million).
• Music Development and Heritage
Sweden to promote gender equality
in musical life (SEK 8 million).
• The National Historical Museums
to develop a more gender-equal
representation within the museum
sector (SEK 3 million).
• The Swedish Agency for Cultural
Policy Analysis to evaluate gender
equality initiatives (SEK 500 thousand).
• The Swedish Media Council to carry
out a study of children's and young
people's use of social meeting.
• The Swedish Arts Council to implement reading promotion efforts in
cooperation with the sports movement (SEK 3 million).
Experience from these has provided a basis
both for pinpointing future initiatives and
for adapting them to target groups. This will
help to increase gender equality.
ministry of culture sweden
41
If women were to become
” entrepreneurs to the same extent
as men, we would have 75 000 new
companies in Sweden. This means both
more companies and more jobs Annie Lööf,Minister for Enterprise
”
G
2007, the Swedish Agency for Economic and
reater gender equality leads to
Regional Growth has run the programme
more jobs, increased growth and
“Promoting Women's Entrepreneurship”,
profitable businesses. If women
which covers SEK 100 million per year. It is
were to become entrepreneurs to the same
a programme that will help to create growth
extent as men, we would have 75 000 new
and renewal in Swedish trade and industry.
companies in Sweden. This means both
An important part of the programme
more companies and more jobs. Studies
is to increase knowledge and change attishow that companies with a gender-equal
tudes towards entrepreneurship. One tool
management perform better. There is, in
in this work consists in the ambassadors
other words, a lot of potential for more
for women's entrepreneurship that we have
women to start, run and lead companies. It
appointed. The ambassadors visit schools,
is therefore gratifying to note that women's
universities and various networks to talk
entrepreneurship has been increasing more
about their experiences
than men's since 2006.
and inspire others to see
My goal is for SweSkulle kvinnors företagande
entrepreneurship as a
den to be the world's
bli lika vanligt som bland män
possible career choice.
best country to live,
skulle det innebära 75 000
There are currently
work and run a business
nya företag i Sverige
909 entrepreneurs apin. Sustainability and
pointed as ambassadors
gender equality are two
for women's entrepreneurship until 2014.
fundamental perspectives in my work and
Each county has a regional coordinator,
that of the ministry. This means that we
whose tasks include handling inquiries, orengage with the gender equality perspective
ganising regional network meetings for the
every day and in all the work we do. It inambassadors, cultivating support for ambasvolves both general requirements and meassador projects among regional actors and
ures – such as governance and performance
serving as a support for the ambassadors.
reporting through statistics by gender – and
In order to strengthen women's entrespecific, targeted measures to increase genpreneurship, Almi's innovation financing
der equality.
has been enhanced by SEK 10 million. The
Women's entrepreneurship
proportion of women who received instrengthens Sweden
novation financing from Almi increased
somewhat in 2012, amounting to 34 per cent,
The Government aspires to see more womcompared with 30 per cent in 2011.
en choosing to become entrepreneurs. Since
42
ministry of enterprise energy and communication sweden
2006–2012 ökade andelen kvinnor i styrelser
för statliga myndigheter och bolag från ett
genomsnitt på 42 procent till ett genomsnitt
på 54,4 procent.
Källa: Budgetpropositionen 2007/ 08 och
2013 /14 samt bolagens
hållbarhetsredovisning
andel kvinnliga
ledamöter i % 2006
andel kvinnliga
ledamöter i % 2012
verket för innovationssystem
44
57
tillväxtverket (tidigare nutek)
44
50
bolagsverket
50
67
almi
39
48
rise (holdingbolag för industriforskningsinstituten)
33
50
totalt (genomsnitt för nämnda myndigheter och bolag)
42
54,4
Action plan for a gender-equal
regional growth 2012–2014
An even distribution of power and resources
is one of the prerequisites for sustainable
growth throughout the country. For this
reason, we have produced an action plan for
a gender-equal regional growth. The plan
covers the period 2012–2014 and aims to give
women the same opportunities as men to
achieve influence in the work for regional
growth and to have access to growth resources, such as regional business support.
An action plan with prioritised measures
has been produced in each county, and implementation has begun. The Government
will continue to prioritise and monitor the
implementation of action plan initiatives.
More women on the boards
of state-owned companies
and government agencies
Women's influence over the development of
key sectors of trade and industry contributes
both to economic growth and a sustainable
society. The Ministry of Enterprise, Energy
and Communications is therefore working
to strengthen gender equality on the boards
of the agencies and state-owned companies
that report to it. The goal is the even gender distribution of board members and for
recruitment to be based on considerations
of a gender equality perspective.
FACTS
Golden rules
The Golden Rules of Leadership is
a result of Sweden's involvement in
the former U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton's “International Council on Women's Business
Leadership”. The purpose of the
Golden Rules of Leadership is to
make the world more gender equal
by promoting female talent. Sweden
is the first to launch, and countries
like the U.S., India, Brazil and South
Africa will follow. The Government is
investing SEK 1 million in 2013 and
SEK 5 million in 2014 to get more
women to assume power in trade
and industry. The Swedish Agency
for Economic and Regional Growth
has been instructed to carry out an
investment in the Golden Rules of
Leadership. Among other things, the
funds will be used for knowledge
development, leadership training and
for mentoring female talent.
ministry of enterprise energy and communication sweden
43
”
I am convinced that companies
with more women in leadership
positions contribute to the greater
success of these companies
Peter Norman, Minister for Financial Markets
A
”
the countries that have come far in gender
s Minister for Financial Markets,
equality, both in general and in industry
I am responsible for the manageand enterprise. However, much remains to
ment of companies with state
be done in order for women and men to be
ownership interests. These are both major
met with the same conditions in the whole
companies, such as Vattenfall and LKAB,
of society. We still see how women earn less
and smaller companies, such as Göta kanaland that there are parts of society controlled
bolag. Within the framework of managing
by men, where women are absent. The top
companies with state ownership interests,
level of trade and industry, i.e. corporate
the Government and I have significantly inmanagement and boards of directors, is an
creased the level of ambition for sustainable
area in which progress is slow. According
enterprise during the current term of office.
to SIS Ägarservice, the statistics followIt is natural for central government and the
ing the 2013 annual general meetings show
companies in which it has ownership interthat the percentage of
ests to be at the forefront
women on the boards
of developments in this
Arbetsgivare med goda
of listed companies in
area. Sustainable entervärderingar kommer att
the past year has only
prise is about more than
attrahera och behålla de
increased by about one
compliance with rules
bästa medarbetarna
tenth to just under 24
and regulations. Employper cent. Following deers with sound values will
velopments over the last ten years, there is
attract and retain the best employees, and
a slow increase in the percentage of women
strategic efforts towards sustainable enteron the boards of listed companies, but this
prise will create conditions for sustainable
has more or less levelled off in the last three
and profitable businesses. I see this as beyears. My conclusion is that the developing part of a modern and active corporate
ment towards more women in leadership
governance.
positions is taking far too long.
Equal labour market opportunities
I am convinced that companies with
more women in leadership positions make
The initiative for an increased focus on susboards and management teams more
tainable enterprise goes hand in hand with
dynamic, and so contribute to the greater
the Government's high level of ambition
success of these companies. The Governwith respect to gender equality. A central
ment is working diligently to strengthen
starting point for our policy is that women
gender equality in companies with state
and men should have equal opportunities
ownership interests and has, inter alia, the
in the labour market. Sweden is among
44
ministry of finance sweden
andelen kvinnliga styrelseledamöter
och ordföranden i statliga helägda
bolag respektive i börsnoterade bolag.
Avser situationen per 1 maj 2013.
statligt helägda bolag
börsnoterade bolag
Källa: Finansdepartementet och SIS Ägarservice
According to SIS Ägarservice, less than
goal of an even gender balance among the
5 per cent of chairpersons in listed compaboard members of these companies, i.e. that
nies are women.
the proportion of women and men must be
A further means that central governat least 40 per cent.
ment as an owner uses to
As owner, the Governpromote gender equality
ment is responsible for
I dag är 42 procent av
is to require companies to
nominating
candidates
themselves work actively
to the boards, and we are
ordförandena kvinnor i de
on gender equality. The
thus able to directly instatligt helägda bolagen,
ownership policy states
fluence the composition
jämfört med 23 procent
that they must drive deof the boards. As a result
år 2006
velopment towards a balof our electing to recruit
anced gender distribution
members from the entire
in senior posts in the companies. Here too,
Swedish population, and not only the male
good results are discernible – the proporcontingent, we have succeeded in coming a
tion of women in the management teams
long way with respect to recruiting womof state-owned companies today stands at
en to the boards of companies with state
38 per cent compared with 28 per cent in
ownership interests. Close to half, 49 per
2006, and the proportion of female CEOs
cent, of the board members including chairis now 29 per cent compared with 10 per
persons are women in the companies that
cent in 2006.
are wholly owned by central government.
The companies must themselves work
actively on gender equality issues
The role of chairing a board is unique, and
a chairperson has a special position in the
task of leading the board and representing
the company. Since coming to power, the
Government has raised the level of ambition also with respect to increasing the
percentage of female chairpersons. Today,
41 per cent of chairpersons in companies
wholly owned by central government are
women, compared with 23 per cent in 2006.
ministry of finance sweden
45
A functioning democracy
”
needs both women and men to
be able to, willing to and choose
to become involved in politics ”
Birgitta Ohlsson, Minister for EU Affairs
G
ployment and growth strategy, Europe 2020.
ender equality is, sad to say,
Sweden has succeeded in achieving agreeoften an issue that is susceptiment to the employment target of at least
ble to political trends. It has the
75 per cent for both men and women
capacity to wax in times of prosperity and
throughout the EU. This is an extremely
wane in times of economic crisis. Personimportant result. Earning their own monally, I am a liberal feminist in all my fields,
ey is the foundation of
come rain or shine. When
women's emancipation.
travelling in the EU and
Europa har helt enkelt
beyond in my role of inte råd att ha världens mest The goal must be for
women and men to work
Minister for EU Affairs,
välutbildade hemmafruar
as much as each other.
it is important for me to
Cash is queen, as I usually
meet and support local
say. Europe simply cannot afford to have the
women's rights organisations. When apworld's most highly educated housewives.
pointing government inquiry chairs, I am
particular about half of them being womDemocracy – an issue
en. It is important that we practise what
of gender equality
we preach.
Europe is often held up as the cradle
Democracy is very much an issue of gender
of both feminism and democracy. Despite
equality. It was only just over a century ago
this, there are millions of women in the
that the most fundamental of democratic
EU who cannot work at all. They are forced
rights – the right to vote – was based on one's
to assume sole responsibilgender and on one's wallet.
ity for home and children.
The struggle for universal
Att tjäna egna pengar
Several EU Member States
and equal suffrage lasted
do not offer adequate and
decades. It was not until
är grunden för kvinnors
affordable childcare. Elder1921 that Sweden saw the
frigörelse
ly care too is often poorly
real breakthrough of dedeveloped, and women feel
mocracy. Women received
compelled to care for ageing relatives. Joint
the right to vote, and universal suffrage was
taxation, which inhibits women's gainful
introduced. Today, Swedish democracy faces
employment, still persists in many EU counnew challenges concerning gender equality.
tries.
A functioning representative democracy
I am proud to have been a driving force
needs both women and men to be able to,
for the introduction of an enhanced gender
willing to and choose to become involved in
equality perspective in the EU's joint empolitics.
46
prime minister's office sweden
75%
är målet för både mäns och
kvinnors sysselsättning i eu
As Minister for Democratic Issues, I have
of over-indebtedness will be necessary. This
conducted many surveys to take the pulse
is why the Government appointed a comof democracy. One clear result is that
mittee of inquiry to produce a gender-mainwomen are under-represtreamed and actionsented in politics among
oriented strategy against
Jag blev inte mindre
those nominated in muover-indebtedness.
feminist när jag blev minister.
nicipal assembly elections
I did not become
and in weightier positions.
less of a feminist when
Snarare mer
It is also the case that more
I became a minister. On
women than men are subthe contrary. When in
jected to threats and violence in their role as
Brussels and Strasbourg, I often wonder if
elected representatives.
I have arrived at a meeting for ministers
or at a club for men. The leadership of the
Over-indebtedness – a problem
European Central Bank still does not have
of gender equality?
a single woman. In the Europe of 2013,
the glass ceiling still exists and the face of
Within the framework of Swedish consumer
power still often belongs to a man. So femipolicy, there are many challenges. One manism cannot go into hibernation. Not today.
jor social and public health problem is overNot tomorrow. And gender equality must
indebtedness. More than 400 000 Swedes
always be at the top of the agenda irrespechave debts with the Swedish Enforcement
tive of policy area.
Authority. If we are to help those caught in
the debt trap, a gender analysis of the causes
prime minister's office sweden
47
A woman earns an average of
”
SEK 3.6 million less than a man in
her working life – this is irrational ”
Elisabeth Svantesson, Minister for Employment
A
The Swedish Work Environment
s Minister for Employment, I
Authority's assignment regarding
have the urgent task of working
women's work environment
for women and men to have the
same conditions in the Swedish labour
In 2011, the Swedish Work Environment
market. Women and men must have the
Authority received a mandate from the
same prerequisites for choosing their jobs
Government to develop and implement speand the same opportunities to thrive and
cial initiatives to prevent women from bedevelop in their work. The difference being knocked out of working life due to probtween women's and men's lifetime earnlems related to their work environment. The
ings is not rational. One explanation for
mandate includes gathering knowledge, disthe difference is that
seminating informawomen and men are
tion, training inspecKvinnor arbetar mer än män
largely in industries
med repetitiva arbetsuppgifter och tors and implementing
and professions where
national
inspection
män går ofta vidare till andra mer
salaries differ. To break
activities. The work
varierade arbetsuppgifter
the prevailing strucwill be carried out unture of gender segretil the end of 2014.
gation in the labour market, there is a
Special methods for assessing the risk of
need for efforts in several policy areas.
strain injuries have been developed, and so far
about 700 workplaces have been inspected
The Delegation for Gender
using these methods. The inspections
Equality in Working Life
showed that women have repetitive tasks
more than men and that men often move on
The Government has appointed the Deleto other more varied tasks. A compilation of
gation for Gender Equality in Working Life
knowledge dealing with strain, gender and
to compile and spread knowledge about the
health in working life shows that men and
different conditions and opportunities of
women have different tasks, even if they
women and men in working life, as well as
work in the same professions, and that this
various causes for the existing differences.
is probably a significant explanation for
The Delegation's assignment includes stiminequalities in occupational health. Another
ulating debate and submitting proposals on
research compilation shows that ergonomic
how to promote gender equality in working
improvements are not only beneficial to
life and to reduce the pay gap between womemployees but also contribute to the quality
en and men. The completed assignment is
of operations.
to be presented by 24 October 2014.
Another part of the project has focused
48
ministry of employment sweden
on a sustainable work environment with
a focus on women. The knowledge compiled shows that men's perspectives and
approaches often constitute the norm in
workplaces. Women lack opportunities to
influence their situation to a greater degree
than men. Around 850 inspections of female- and male-dominated municipal activities, home-help services and technical service units, have been carried out. The results
show that the female-dominated workplaces
experience problems with heavy workloads
and a lack of resources and equipment.
Gender mainstreaming
The Swedish Work Environment Authority
is one of the agencies that will be particularly deepening its work on gender mainstreaming on behalf of the Government.
The goal is for the Authority's decisions
and processes to lead to tangible operational improvements that will ensure that the
Authority's activities meet the needs of
both women and men for a sound work
environment.
FACTS
• Since 2006, both the proportion
and the number of women working full-time has increased in the
labour market.
• Sverige har högst sysselsättningsgrad bland kvinnor inom EU.
an initiative to promote gender equality and
counteract threats and violence in working
life.
Taken together, the special initiatives
of 2009–2011 resulted in a large number of
activities that covered knowledge gathering,
knowledge dissemination and inspections.
The Work Environment Authority has compiled the results on its website in the form
of research-based knowledge overviews and
interactive online training for prevention in
the workplace.
The Swedish Work Environment
Authority's assignment regarding
threats and violence in working life
Threats and violence in working life represent an area in which the Government
has determined that special initiatives are
needed to reduce the risks. For this reason,
in 2009, the Government tasked the Work
Environment Authority with implementing
ministry of employment sweden
49
The transport system
”
must cater to the needs of
both men and women ”
Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd, Minister for Infrastructure
A
Women travel shorter
s early as 2001, gender equality bedistances than men
came a designated goal of transport policy, and since then the
Today, the travel patterns of women and
sector has been working to analyse and pay
men are different. Over the course of a
regard to this.
year, men generally travel much longer disThe Government's goal is for the design,
tances than women. Although men travel
function and use of the transport system to
longer distances, their total journey time is
be instrumental in providing everyone with
shorter than that of women.
basic accessibility of high quality and usabilEven though the car is the most comity. In addition, it should contribute to the
mon means of transport for both women
force for development
and men, men drive cars
throughout the country.
more. Holding a drivTrots att män reser längre
The transport system
ing licence is often an
är deras totala restid kortare
must be gender equal, i.e.
advantage in the labour
jämfört med kvinnors
designed to cater equally
market. This may also be
to women's and men's
a necessity for reaching
travel patterns and transportation needs.
the workplace and social services and for
Possessing knowledge about the differences
having a social life. To ensure equal opporbetween women's and men's needs and
tunities for women and men, driving tests
behaviours is important to being able to
for different driving licence entitlements
deploy the right measures.
should be designed so that men and women
The Government is also striving for
have equal opportunities to take and pass
gender-equal representation on the boards
them. I therefore plan to commission an
of the agencies falling within the transport
analysis of driving tests for licences from a
remit. At present, their total composition is
gender perspective.
18 women and 18 men.
Women's and men's values
Transportsystemet ska vara utformat så att det likvärdigt tillgodoser
kvinnors och mäns resmönster och
transportbehov
50
Regarding the way in which women and men
evaluate measures in the transport system,
there are few differences. The differences
that have been clear for a long time relate to
road safety, the climate and environmental
issues, whereby women evaluate these aspects more highly than men do. According
ministry of enterprise energy and communications sweden
51
Integration policy has an
”
explicit gender equality focus –
50 %
more foreign-born women
must get into work
”
av representanterna i
transportmyndigheternas
styrelser är kvinnor
to the Swedish Transport Administration's
Road Safety Survey 2012, women still evaluate road safety more highly than men do.
For example, women think to a far higher
degree that cars should be equipped with
alcohol interlocks and that it is reasonable to
lower speed limits to improve road safety. It
is also true that far more men than women
violate speed limits. Men also take greater
risks in traffic.
Accessibility for all
The Government is contributing to greater
accessibility for women and men through
major ventures in operations, maintenance
and measures to increase public transport
use and new investment. These are being
undertaken to enhance the transport system.
Erik Ullenhag, Minister for Integration
FACTS
• Women own just over 1/3 of all
privately owned cars. Private cars
owned by women have a somewhat
shorter annual mileage than those
owned by men, but the difference
has decreased over the past ten
years.
• 76% of all women and 86% of all
men have a driving licence.
• Nine out of ten receiving a police
fine in 2009–2011 and who were
driving more than 30 km/h too fast
on a public highway were men.
• In 2012, 286 persons were killed in
traffic, of whom 24% were women
and 76% men.
• With respect to agencies falling
within the transport remit, the
boards appointed by the Government as of 26/9 2013 had a 50%
proportion of women and a 50%
proportion of men.
52
ministry of enterprise energy and communications sweden
T
he goal of the Government's integration policy is equal rights, obligations and opportunities for all,
regardless of gender or ethnicity. It is about
newly arrived women and men being given
the same opportunities to obtain individualised efforts to quickly learn the Swedish language and get into work. Newly arrived boys
and girls must receive the right conditions
to cope with their schooling.
The establishment reform – integration
policy with a gender equality focus
It generally takes too long for the newly
arrived, in particular newly arrived women, to get into work. For this reason, the
Government has redesigned the policy regarding this initial period in Sweden and
given integration policy an explicit gender
equality focus. The old reception system
showed that women began Swedish tuition
later, received fewer initiatives, had fewer
contacts with the labour market and had
lower compensation during the introduction period than men. The Government has
changed this and introduced an individual
establishment compensation that requires
participation in establishment initiatives
and that is not dependent on the household's combined income. This gives women
opportunities to earn their own income and
creates incentives for both spouses to participate in Swedish for Immigrants, civic orientation and other employment preparation
activities.
The Government has also introduced compulsory civic orientation for all newly
arrived persons participating in establishment initiatives. Not least from a gender
equality perspective, it is important for
them to receive information at an early
stage about their rights and obligations and
about the values and codes of society. No
newly arrived woman should have to turn
solely to her partner for information about
society.
Work and self-sufficiency
– an issue of gender equality
The design of the parental benefit system
has meant that newly arrived women
bringing children to Sweden have been
able to take parental leave for a very extended period and have not participated
in establishment initiatives. This has impeded the labour market entry of foreign-born women. The Government has
therefore proposed that no more than 96
days of parental benefit should be payable
after a child's fourth birthday. The majority of parental benefit should be used
when the child is small and the need for
parental care is greatest. The proposal is
expected to counteract the lock-in effects
of parental insurance and contribute to
more foreign-born women more quickly
coming in contact with the labour market.
To make it easier for parents to combine
parenthood with participation in employment preparation activities, the Governministry of employment sweden
53
ment intends to create better opportunities
for parents to participate in activities on a
part-time basis and take parental leave at
the same time. The possibility of extending
the establishment plan that exists for those
who are on full-time parental leave should
also apply in the case of part-time parental
leave.
The Government has strengthened
protection against discrimination
In recent years, the Government has
strengthened protection against discrimination in society, in part through a new and
integrated discrimination legislation and the
establishment of the Equality Ombudsman
(DO). The framework of the policy on national minorities includes a gender equality
perspective and a series of gender equality
initiatives that have been taken to provide
various forms of support for girls and
women belonging to one of Sweden's five
national minorities.
The gender pay gap must
continue to decrease
The gender pay gap must continue to decrease. A woman earns an average of SEK
3.6 million less than a man over her lifetime,
and there are still problems with unwarranted and unexplained gender pay differentials
for the same job at the same workplace. Wage
surveys are an important tool for combating
gender pay differentials. In 2013, the Government has invested a further SEK 9 million
54
ministry of employment sweden
FACTS
• Equal rights, obligations and opportunities for all, regardless of ethnic
or cultural background.
• According to Statistics Sweden's
labour market surveys, employment
among foreign-born women increased
by 3.1% between 2010 and 2013.
• The number of those studying
Swedish for Immigrants has doubled
since 2005, with a greater proportion
of women passing a course than men.
• Integration policy has an explicit
gender equality focus – both newly
arrived women and men must get
into work and learn Swedish.
to enable DO to improve its supervision of
employers' wage surveys. Furthermore, in
2012, the Government appointed an inquiry
chair to propose how requirements for active
measures against discrimination should be
designed and made more explicit. Part of this
task relates specifically to wage surveys and
action plans for gender-equal pay.
form Blomquist printed by Edita Bobergs, 2014 art no U14.002
p. 15: Bodil Johansson/Folio, p. 23: Alex Sava/iStock, p. 30: Kristian Pohl,
p. 34: Kristian Pohl/Folio, p. 39: Barnabas Rumpf/Getty Images, p. 51: Susanne Kronholm/Johnér,
other portraits: Government Offices of Sweden
photo