Sweden’s Gender Equality Objectives
Sweden’s goal of providing women and men with the same power to form society and their own lives was adopted with a broad political consensus in 2006, based on the new gender policy objectives (Prop. 2005/06:155).
The new gender equality policy contains six main objectives which are presented here in a condensed version. To read the full version, please refer to the website of the Government Offices of Sweden.
Equal Division of Power and Influence
Women and men are to have the same rights and opportunities to be active citizens and to shape the conditions for decision-making.
This is linked to Sweden’s overall gender objective: that men and women should have equal power to form society. Social, economic and other structural obstacles should not prevent women from being active citizens and having the same opportunities and access to decision-making power as men.
Economic Gender Equality
Women and men must have the same opportunities and conditions as regards paid work which give economic independence throughout life.
This objective emphasises the economic conditions men and women face as individuals. It aims to divide economic resources equally between men and women.
Gender-Equal Education
Women and men, girls and boys must have the same opportunities and conditions with regard to education, study options, and personal development.
Gender-equal education was declared a separate objective in November 2016. This objective applies to all educational levels, from pre-school to post-secondary education, adult literacy programmes and vocational training programmes. It also contains other forms of education, such as study circles and educational associations, which are not included in the national education system. All educational sectors work against gender-based study choices and strategically focus on establishing an equal education system.
Equal Distribution of Unpaid Housework and Provision of Equal Care
Women and men must have the same responsibility for housework and have the opportunity to give and receive care on equal terms.
Women and men should take the same responsibility for housework and provide equal child care. The goal not only includes sharing the unpaid work between heterosexual couples in the household, but also concerns sharing unpaid work between men and women at the social level.
Gender-Equal Health
Women and men, girls and boys must have the same conditions for a good health and be offered care on equal terms.
Gender equality in health was declared a separate objective in November 2016. To achieve and maintain public health, healthcare services should be not only of the highest possible standard but also as equally distributed as possible. Gender equality in health relates to physical, psychological and sexual/reproductive health and involves measures and actions to eliminate factors that prevent individuals from accessing public health services and the existing social service. It also concerns the support and services for people with disabilities.
Men's Violence against Women Must Stop
Women and men, girls and boys, must have the same right and access to physical integrity.
This objective refers to all forms of physical, sexual and psychological violence and threats. It also covers honor-related violence and oppression, along with prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes.
