Home of the "new father"?
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Transcript of Home of the "new father"?
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Home of the "new father"?
Historical perspectives on Swedish parental leave policy
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”Women’s issues” become ”jämställdhet” (1960s)
Gender equality as redistribution of rights and responsibilities – dual roles for both women and men
Gender equality as consensus building – a “win-win situation”
Gender equality as modernity – the new father as a symbol of “swedishness
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”Getting mum a job and making dad pregnant” (1970s)
1974: Paternity leave 6 month to share Today: 480 days (50/50)
2 “daddy’s months” – “use it or loose it”
Men use 20 per cent 1975: Quota debate
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”New” fatherhood as pedagogical project
1976: the “Hoa Hoa” campaign 13 Nation wide campaigns, 20
local campaigns (1976-2006) National Social Insurance Office,
National Board of Health and Welfare, Government Ministries, Equal Opportunity Ombudsman and many more
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Images of fatherhood and gender equality 1976-2000
The competent father ”Silent revolution”
Parental leave as possibility Freedom of choice, flexibility
“Tailor made solutions” Self development, EQ
“The best of both worlds” Male subordination
“Stand your ground!”
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Conclusions (1976-2000)
Equality on male terms Fatherhood as ”consumption”
rather than ”production” Men as secondary parents
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Images of fatherhood and gender equality 2001-2006
Half each! Parenthood, rather than fatherhood Children’s rights
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Conclusions 2001-2006
Men as primary, rather than secondary parents ”Parents” rather than ”dads”
Back to the radical redistribution logic of the 1960s
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In order to realize its full potential as policy instrument, paternity leave must…
be universal be individual (non-transferable) be flexibly administrated (?) offer job protection offer substantial wage protection
Sweden and the other Nordic countries are close to this ideal