The definitive guide to equality in Sweden
Sweden, the World's Most Equal Country®, where the women drive the buses and the men drive the baby buggies. Or is it? When it comes to the number of women on boards of directors, Sweden is way down the European pecking order and an increasingly vociferous feminist movement suggests that all is not as it should be in the land of equality. Browse through our collected articles below.
Wanted: Men to work in Swedish preschools
The lack of men working in Sweden's preschools is cause for concern, according to Equality Minister Maria Arnholm, who has said she's open to altering employment rules to make it easier for men to enter the education field. READ () »
'Let's tell the truth about women's progress'
Political leaders in Sweden and elsewhere could do themselves and women a favour by sticking to the facts when beating the drum for gender equality, argues liberal commentator Nima Sanandaji. READ () »
'Why haven't we had a woman prime minister?'
Birgitta Ohlsson made waves when she was appointed European Affairs Minister while pregnant, but she still wonders why Sweden lags behind its neighbours in having a woman head the government, the AFP's Camille Bas-Wohlert discovers. READ () »
Swedish men trail women in care league
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency says women are still taking out more than their share of leave days and benefits to care for children or relatives, according to statistics compiled for International Women's Day. READ () »
Polemic pundit prepares for political comeback
In our series profiling Swedish newsmakers, our pick for Swede of the Week is firebrand feminist Gudrun Schyman, who wants to return to national politics to fight surging sexism and a lulling labour market. READ () »
Swedes ignore equality law on salary surveys
Swedish employers are increasingly failing to keep tabs on whether men's and women's salaries are equal, a requirement stipulated by law. READ () »
Publicist replaces Sabuni as equality minister
Following Equality Minister Nyamko Sabuni's quick retreat, the government announced that her top aide, Maria Arnholm, who has a history in PR and marketing, would take over. READ () »
'Don't fear the word power': equality minister
Gender equality has fallen off many Swedish citizens' list of top-priorities, several speakers noted at a labour and equality conference in Stockholm on Thursday. READ () »
'Offer preschools a bonus for hiring men'
Sweden could entice preschools to employ more men with a one-off bonus, similar to a system in neighbouring Norway that aimed to bump up men’s representation in the profession to 20 percent. READ () »
Gender debate sparks UK-Sweden media spat
Claims that a gender-neutral toy catalogue proved Sweden had "lost" a generation of women sparked a fierce war of words between popular Swedish tabloid Expressen and British publication The Telegraph. READ () »
Swedish lesbians see red over sperm fee
A lesbian couple in southern Sweden has reported the county council to the Swedish Equality Ombudsman, for making them pay 3,000 kronor ($457) for two inseminations. READ () »
'Sweden is not gender equal': minister
Sweden’s equality minister has spoken out about the lack of gender equality in Sweden, after a recent poll showed that the majority of Swedes believe the country is not gender equal. READ () »
Swedish firms choose male bosses: report
Two-thirds of newly appointed bosses in 2011 were men, according to a survey of Sweden's eight largest management recruitment companies presented in Swedish media. READ () »
Half of young Swedish mums want to be housewives: study
More than half of young Swedish mothers want to be housewives, according to a new survey, a finding that doesn't surprise some gender researchers. READ () »
Reinfeldt discussed equality in the UN
Gender equality and women's rights on a global scale were the themes of Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's speech to the United Nations on Friday. READ () »
Minister touts new law on board gender quotas
Sweden's minster for gender equality, Nyamko Sabuni, has called for legislation to help boost the number of women who serve on the boards of local government-run companies. READ () »
'Boost sex ed in Swedish schools': minister
The Swedish government plans to boost sexual education in schools, announcing a 10 million kronor ($1.5 million) investment to expand the subject from biology classes into history, social studies and religion. READ () »
Long commutes 'bad for marriage': Swedish study
A long commute to work might further job prospects and put more money in the bank but it also increases the risk of divorce by 40 percent, a new study from Umeå University in northern Sweden shows. READ () »
Father in u-turn over lesbian daughter eviction
A woman in southern Sweden was facing eviction from a flat she had been renting from her father for 16 years because he didn't approve of her "lesbian activity". READ () »
Sweden slams on-court skirt demand
A demand that female badminton players don skirts when taking to the court in international competition has rubbed the sport's Swedish supporters the wrong way. READ () »
Parental leave equality '30 years away': study
Recent figures show that it will take more than three decades until parents in Sweden share their parental leave benefits equally. READ () »
Swedish manager pay varies widely: report
There is a large discrepancy between managers in city areas of Sweden and the rest of the country, as well as between genders and the public and the private sector, a new report presented Wednesday shows. READ () »
Swedish lesbians allege parental leave bonus discrimination
A lesbian couple has accused Sweden's social insurance agency of discrimination after being denied the right to the government's gender equity bonus for parents who share parental leave equally. READ () »
'Gender quotas would benefit Sweden's corporate boards'
Too few women serve on the boards of directors at Swedish companies and introducing quotas may be a necessary step to ensure that companies capture the benefits of diversity, argues leadership coach Margareta Neld. READ () »
Minister: housewives threaten EU economy
The EU's GDP could increase by almost 30 percent if more women in Europe worked, according to Sweden EU Minister Birgitta Ohlsson, who warned that "a Jurassic Park filled with old men" may be the alternative. READ () »
TeliaSonera executive named Sweden's top businesswoman
Malin Frenning, the head of Swedish-Finnish telecom firm TeliaSonera's broadband services unit, has been named Sweden’s most powerful businesswoman by a leading business magazine. READ () »
Rise in abuse of foreign wives in Sweden: report
Reports of assault and sexual abuse from women who come to Sweden to be with Swedish men have become increasingly common, according to a new report. READ () »
Swedish CEO salaries 'unacceptable': union
The CEOs of Sweden's 50 largest companies earn on average 40 times more than an industrial worker, a finding that a union organisation head believes is "totally unacceptable" and requires a "popular uprising" to remedy. READ () »
Bonuses to boost gender equity at Swedish unis
Swedish universities should be offered cash ‘equality bonuses’ for making significant strides toward increased gender equity, a government commission has proposed. READ () »
Boys' 'anti-studying' culture hurts Swedish school equality: study
The 'anti-studying' culture among Swedish boys and problems relating to honour impede school efforts in pushing gender equality, according to a new government report released on Monday. READ () »
Swedish pupils slide in new global ranking
The reading comprehension and mathematics skills of 15-year-old Swedish students have deteriorated in the 2000s, a new triennial OECD study released on Tuesday has found. READ () »
Woman gets damages for pregnancy job snub
A 29-year-old woman is to receive 100,000 kronor ($14,000) in damages after reaching an out of court settlement with a store in western Sweden which cited her pregnancy as grounds for not offering her a permanent job. READ () »
Big increase in prostitution reports
The number of people reported to the police for buying sex has risen five-fold in Sweden in the past year, according to new figures. READ () »
Big claims, little evidence: Sweden's law against buying sex
A new review of Sweden's ban on buying sex has provided little hard evidence that the policy of prohibition has worked, writes Laura Agustín, but few politicians have dared to point out its obvious failings. READ () »
Women's injuries 'not taken seriously'
Women are much less likely than men to receive compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency for work-related injuries, new figures show. READ () »
Birgitta Ohlsson - A maverick in a ministerial suit
Sweden's Minister of EU Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson talks to The Local's Peter Vinthagen Simpson about freedom of expression in Sweden and Europe today; the euro and Sweden's status outside of it; and what can be done to encourage and promote universal European liberal values. READ () »
Sweden bans university affirmative action
The Swedish government has announced that from August 1st it will no longer be permitted to favour prospective university students by virtue of their gender. READ () »
'Don't force mothers to stay at home'
The European Commission's proposed new directive on maternity leave is well-meaning but fatally flawed, argues Minister for EU Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson. READ () »
Sweden slams forced maternity leave
The Swedish government is critical of a new EU directive proposal making it obligatory for women to be at home for the first six weeks after birth. EU minister Birgitta Ohlsson plans to argue Sweden's case in the EU parliament. READ () »
Female students awarded discrimination damages
Lund University in southern Sweden has agreed to pay compensation to 24 women denied admission to the university's psychology programme because of their gender. READ () »
Swedish rock mums roll up for riff camp
If you are a "madame" aged "18 to eternity" and have long harboured dreams of stardom, a new music camp at cities across Sweden may help you hone your rock star poise and hot licks. READ () »
Moderates add feminist touch to policy platform
The Moderate Party is making an election year play to increase its appeal to feminist voters, promising to take on gender-based pay disparities and ranking schools according to gender equity, among other proposals. READ () »
Sweden set to scrap university gender quotas
Sweden plans to ditch gender quotas for admissions to programmes at the country’s universities and colleges, according to higher education and research minister Tobias Krantz. READ () »
Donald scores landslide victory in Christmas 'duck' battle
Perennial TV ratings champion 'Kalle Anka och vänner' ('Donald Duck and Friends) squashed the outspoken wife of crooner Paul Anka in what was billed as Sweden's Christmas Eve battle of the ducks. READ () »
'Feminists have better sex': Swedish party
Sweden's feminist political party is hoping logo items featuring a bold claim about their supporters’ supposed prowess in the bedroom will raise awareness about the party during the holiday shopping season. READ () »
Allow Afghan women to give massages: army adviser
A Swedish army gender adviser in Afghanistan has taken the Armed Forces to task for only employing local men to perform massages on troops stationed in Mazar-E-Sharif. READ () »
Swedish 'milkman' loses breastfeeding battle
Ragnar Bengtsson, 26, has failed in his high profile bid to pump forth milk from his breasts. READ () »
Sweden lagging behind in equality for women professionals
Sweden's much-vaunted gender equality statistics do not stretch as far as the boardrooms of private companies, an area in which the country has fallen way off the international pace, argues Nima Sanandaji. READ () »
Women awarded damages for nightclub make-out session
Two women who were told to stop kissing by a guard at a popular Stockholm night club have had their damage award for discrimination upheld by the Supreme Court. READ () »
Benefits agency guilty of gender discrimination
Four women who were denied sick benefits during their pregnancies have won a landmark discrimination case against Sweden’s National Social Insurance agency (Försäkringskassan). READ () »
Gender trouble - time to bury the feminist hatchet?
Since when is the ubiquitous Anna Anka a feminist? And why are feminists apportioned blame for so many of the worlds ills? The Local's Peter Vinthagen Simpson enters the Hollywood housewife debate. READ () »
Rejected women sue Swedish university
A group of women who are suing a Swedish university for gender discrimination have also reported Sweden’s Equality Ombudsman for refusing to take up their case. READ () »
Anna Anka conjures bygone era of Bad Girls and Mad Men
An outspoken Hollywood housewife prompts The Local's Jeanne Rudbeck to weigh up her options: stay a wage slave to the grave or get back to bitchin' in the kitchen. READ () »
Party distances itself from Hollywood wife
The leader of the Christian Democrats has distanced him party from Hollywood wife Anna Anka, who described Swedish men as "tragic" for their "nappy changing" and "equality nonsense". READ () »
Hollywood wife lays in to Swedish men
The Swedish-born wife of Las Vegas crooner Paul Anka has called Swedish men "tragic" for their "nappy changing" and "equality nonsense". LA housewife Anna Anka argues that she could be a role model for Swedish women to follow. READ () »
Swedish dad in bid for breast milk
Swedish father Ragnar Bengtsson has entered into an experiment that he hopes will help him breastfeed his future children. READ () »
Legislate right to full-time employment: Left Party
The Swedish Left Party (Vänsterpartiet) wants to abolish several reforms adopted by the governing Alliance parties, according to a new report. These would include the childcare allowance, the equality bonus and tax deductions for household services. READ () »
Probe into school's alleged Islamic veil discrimination
The Swedish Equality Ombudsman has launched a probe into a case of alleged discrimination after two women who wear veils revealing only the eyes claim they were not allowed to attend adult education classes. READ () »
Swedish men make the best husbands: study
Swedish men’s enlightened attitudes toward equality and gender roles make them among the best potential husbands in the developed world, a recent study shows. READ () »
Swedish men 'not as masculine as they used to be': study
Swedish men have become more metrosexual and less masculine in recent times, according to a new survey polling both sexes on their opinion of the Swedish male. READ () »
'Make conscription mandatory for women': Social Democrats
The Social Democrats want make it mandatory for Swedish women to register for military conscription, rather than allowing them to do so voluntarily. READ () »
Workplace inequality persists in Sweden: study
As the world celebrates International Women's Day a new report from Statistics Sweden indicates that the self-styled "most equal country in the world" still has some work to do. READ () »
Moderate Party: 'half our candidates will be women'
Sweden’s Moderate Party says it wants half of the party’s candidates for the 2010 elections to be women. READ () »
AMF Pension CEO named Sweden's top businesswoman
Ingrid Bonde, the head of Swedish pension firm AMF Pension, has been named Sweden’s most powerful businesswoman by a leading business magazine. READ () »
Men at 40 have highest incomes in Sweden: study
Forty-year-old men are the top earners in Sweden, new statistics show. READ () »
Women only gym zones 'not discriminatory'
Sweden's Equal Opportunities Ombudsman has ruled against a man from Malmö who disputed the right of a local gym to reserve a section for women only. READ () »
Social Democrats praise government equality record
The Swedish government has received plaudits from the opposition Social Democrats over new figures which show that state appointments are in line with Sweden's gender and ethnic diversity. READ () »
Boys blocked from bearing 'girls-only' Lucia crown
While generally supportive of equality between the sexes, Swedes still resist tampering with the Lucia holiday tradition which stipulates only girls should bear a candle-lit crown on December 13th. READ () »
Swedish sport 'ignoring gender equality laws'
Athletics in Sweden fail to live up to demands set by the country’s laws on gender equality, according to an investigation by the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman. READ () »
Study: Swedish men sensitive and lazy
While Swedish men are more willing to accept their role in raising children than men in other parts of Europe, they can't seem to be bothered to do much about it, according to a new study. READ () »
Swedish women's pensions lower than men's
Yet another Swedish report proves that Swedish women draw the short straw when it comes to pensions. READ () »
Opening a window on the Queer world
A new exhibition of 'queer' art provides a perfect prelude to this year's Europride festival, writes David Bartal. READ () »
Inequality thrives in Stockholm's embassy world
Stockholm's diplomatic community is shot through with gender inequality, according to an analysis of official figures carried out by The Local. READ () »
Ericsson ordered to raise women's salaries
Over 100 female employees at Ericsson have been given pay raises after Sweden’s Equal Opportunities Ombudsman (JämO) ruled that the women were paid worse than men. READ () »
Female pedestrians get road sign recognition
Sweden's government has paved the way for the development of road signs at pedestrian crossings that portray women rather than just men. READ () »
'Jail men who pay for sex'
People convicted of paying for sex should be awarded prison sentences, according to the Social Democrats' new equality spokesman. READ () »
Swedish dads steer clear of paternity leave
Swedish fathers enjoy one of the most generous paternity leave policies in the world but few dads take advantage of the opportunity, writes AFP's Sebastien Buffet. READ () »
Sahlin pushes for more paternity leave
Social Democrat leader Mona Sahlin has said she is ready to fight to ensure that dads spend more time with their kids. READ () »
Papers push back on papa payments
David Landes looks at press reaction to the Moderate Party's suggestion of additional incentives designed to ease the ability of fathers to stay home and care for their children. READ () »
Moderates want more dads at home
The Moderate Party wants to reward families in which fathers choose to spend more time with their children. READ () »
'Witch burning' causes women shelter outrage
Women's shelters in southern Sweden have expressed dismay over a band's plan to symbolically burn a witch during the country's Eurovision heats. READ () »
Women priests overtake men
Elisabeth Djurle and Margit Sahlin were the first women to be ordained as priests in the Church of Sweden. Now more than one in three parish priests is female. READ () »
Female road sign rejected
A local authority which wants to erect road signs featuring female characters in the interests of gender equality has had its initiative vetoed by national authorities. READ () »
Moderates want more top women
Half of the top-placed candidates for Sweden's ruling Moderate Party will be women when the party contests the 2009 European Parliament elections. READ () »
Fatherhood boosts men's careers
Men's careers blossom when they become fathers. The same cannot be said for mothers, a new study has found. READ () »
Female equality ombudsman gets lower pay
Sweden's new Equal Opportunities Ombudsman, who is a woman, is to receive a considerably lower salary than her predecessor, who is a man. READ () »
Women ignored in King's honours
Sweden's royal honours system has been labelled male-dominated and unrepresentative of society. The king's finest gold medal has only been awarded to three women - compared to 33 men - since he began dishing it out in 1973. READ () »
Underwear campaign bottoms out in Sweden
An underwear company's campaign to find 'the world's most beautiful bum' has provoked a hostile reaction in Sweden. But is the search for the perfect bottom a "porn trap" for young girls or a bit of harmless fun for men and women alike? READ () »
Swedish women opening more new firms
The number of companies being started by women increased by five percent in 2006. Meanwhile, the number of new firms with men at the helm shrunk by two percent. READ () »
Few women employed in top state jobs
Women have been underrepresented in top level management position in the state sector since the new government came to power last year. 'Not satisfactory', says Mats Odell, who indicates that the government intends to rectify the situation in the future READ () »
Moderate women demand more top posts
Sweden's Moderate Party has too few women in its upper echelons, according to female members who have demanded 40 percent of the top positions in the party by 2010. The current situation is 'appalling', according to MP Magdalena Andersson. READ () »
Widespread ethnic discrimination in Stockholm bars
People with dark skin are routinely denied entry to bars and nightclubs in Stockholm, a police investigation has shown. READ () »
Wage gap narrows between the sexes
The wage gap between men and women in Sweden is getting smaller, according to new statistics. Women working for central and local government have the best deal, while women in the private sector earn just 90 percent of men's wages. READ () »
Swedish CEOs worst paid in Europe
A new study has shown that CEOs for major Swedish companies are paid less than their European peers. The same is true of board members for large Swedish firms. READ () »
Swedish church 'discriminates against women'
The Church of Sweden is to be investigated by equality chiefs, who suspect it of sex discrimination, despite it having ordained women since 1958. READ () »
UN urges Sweden to improve protection of women
A new United Nations report points to a number of shortcomings in how Sweden tackles violence against women. Local councils especially have much room for improvement. READ () »
'No gender quotas in theatres'
Culture minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth has disappointed many in the world of Swedish drama by her opposition to compulsory gender quotas for theatrical productions. READ () »
Sweden has world's second-most gender-equal parliament
With 47.3 percent of seats in the Swedish parliament held by women, the country is a bastion of political gender equality - topped only by Rwanda. READ () »
Moderates promise more female candidates
Sweden's Moderate Party may have achieved its best result in modern times in last year's general election, but a post-election analysis has shown that far fewer women than men voted for the party. READ () »
Swedish women to overtake 'stupid' men
Swedish men are lonelier, fatter and less intelligent than their female counterparts. In twenty years women will dominate society, says expert (who is a man). READ () »
Reinfeldt blocks gender quotas for top jobs
The government is to retract the previous administration's goal of ensuring that 50 per cent of all top management jobs in state bodies go to women. READ () »
Government invests in female entrepreneurship
The government plans to invest 100 million kronor in strengthening women's entrepreneurship. The proportion of female entrepeneurs is currently low in comparison to other EU countries. READ () »
Students appeal against positive discrimination
Two Swedish women who wanted to study law at Uppsala University had their applications rejected in favour of immigrant students with lower grades. Now the Supreme Court will decide whether the university acted unlawfully. READ () »
Car parks "should reserve spaces for women"
A Swedish MP is calling for women-only spaces near the entrances of car parks in a bid to improve safety. Rumours that they will also be 50% wider have not been confirmed. READ () »
Man-free party backed by Swedish equality body
A man who tried to talk his way into a Miss Gay 2006 event in Stockholm in the summer has had his appeal to Sweden's equality ombudsman rejected. He apparently missed the point of equality. READ () »
Women still earn less than men
Swedish women still earn less money than men for doing the same job - and the situation has not improved in 14 years. "We're still a gender-biased society," says Liberal MP Birgitta Ohlsson. READ () »
New Swedish parliament 'most gender balanced ever'
Women will be better represented in the new Swedish parliament than at any point in history, strengthening Sweden's position as one of the countries with the best female representation. READ () »
Teachers 'must handle homophobia better'
Teachers must improve the way they teach pupils about homosexuality, and do more to prevent homophobia. Half of teachers say they hear anti-gay language. READ () »
Feminist "was entitled to sick pay"
A founding member of the Feminist Initiative who claimed sick pay while working for the party was entitled to do so, a court has ruled. READ () »
Women filtered out by Swedish recruiters
A tip for women looking for jobs in Sweden: you will have a considerably better chance of reaching the interview stage if you conceal your name and gender. READ () »
Most sex discrimination reported by men
Special rates for women in hairdressers and taxis, different age limits for men and women in bars - now it's men's turn to rise up against the tyranny of gender oppression. READ () »
Immigrants absent on state firms' boards
The number of women on the boards of Sweden's state-owned companies is increasing, but immigrants are still almost entirely unrepresented, a new survey shows. READ () »
Sweden's military shoots down macho image
New recruits in the Swedish Armed Forces can leave their testosterone at the door: what matters these days is gender equality and language ability, according to a new strategy document. READ () »
Labour Board rejects female committee nominees
The Swedish Labour Board and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise are bickering over the latter's nomination of three women to an advisory committee. Discrimination, cries the Labour Board. READ () »
Men dominate on Swedish leader pages
Equality in the workplace may be a hot political issue in Sweden - but there's a distinct lack of it among the country's key opinion-formers. Around 80% of the leader writers in the Swedish daily press are men, a survey reveals. READ () »
Sweden must boycott World Cup - equality chief
The World Cup in Germany this summer will promote prostitution and human trafficking. So says equality ombudsman Claes Borgström, who has called for Sweden to boycott the competition. READ () »
Pay and violence head FI manifesto
The gender pay gap and male violence are the big issues in the Feminist Initiative's election manifesto. Companies with discriminatory pay practices should have their registrations withdrawn and councils should be obliged to provide women's shelters. READ () »
Equality minister: Sweden is uncivilised
SEE ALSO: SWEDEN PLANS EQUALITY AGENCY
By many measures Sweden is the most gender-equal country in the world. But according to equality minister Jens Orback, the place is uncivilised.
READ () »
Sweden plans equality agency
Over 40% of Sweden's MPs are women, as are half the cabinet members, and more than 80% of women of working age hold down jobs. But that's not good enough, says the government. READ () »
Globalisation to hit Swedish women
Men in Sweden have so far been the losers as industrial jobs move to cheaper countries. But as the service sector sees the possibility of cost savings, globalisation is soon about to affect Swedish women. READ () »
"Promise wage equality" - SD youth leader
The leader of the Social Democrats' youth wing says her party should promise to eradicate wage differences between the sexes by 2010. Ministers "need to wake up," says Anna Sjödin. READ () »
Women becoming rare in boardrooms
The resignation of the managing director of investment firm Carnegie means that only five Swedish listed companies are led by women. READ () »
Women less likely to become professors in Sweden
A man who is doing a doctorate in Sweden is twice as likely to become a professor as a woman taking the same degree, according to a report from the National Agency for Higher Education. Hidden discrimination, says the author of the report. READ () »
More men complain of sex discrimination
Different age restrictions for men and women in bars, different prices for dating services and haircuts - now men are wising up to their rights and fighting for equality. READ () »
Saudi Arabia lifts ban on women at Sweden match
Saudi Arabia has backed down on barring women from attending an international football match with Zlatan and co in Riyadh this week after its decision caused uproar across Sweden. READ () »
Strokes strike stressed Swedish women
The incidence of strokes among Swedish women rose by a third during the 90s, a new study has shown. Work-related stress could be the reason, as could women's tendency "to adopt men's lifestyle habits". READ () »
Ikea founder calls for more women
"Women are the ones who decide almost everything in the home," says Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad. That's why the company needs more of them in management positions, he argues in a documentary to be shown on Tuesday. READ () »
Gender professor cleared of dishonesty
Claims made by academic Eva Lundgren - that ritual Satanist baby murders take place in Sweden and that half of all Swedish women have been subjected to violence by men - were not dishonest, says an inquiry. Just plain wrong. READ () »
More women rising through Swedish companies
Proposals of board gender quotas are dismissed as a report claims that more women than ever are breaking through the "glass ceiling". It's just a question of educational and career choices, say the authors. READ () »
Swedish Church approves gay blessings
Following a resounding yes-vote by the Church Assembly, the highest body of authority in the Swedish Church, gay couples will be able to have their partnerships blessed in the country's churches. READ () »
Boy reports Gothenburg council for discrimination
Gothenburg council creates a discount card to encourage girls to do more sports and lesiure activities - only to be reported for gender discrimination by a 14 year old boy who was refused a card. To be filed under 'Only in Sweden'. READ () »
Police "take women's crime reports less seriously"
When Swedish men report an incident to the police, it is more likely to be taken forward by a prosecutor than a report made by a woman. And crime reports from immigrant women are taken the least seriously. READ () »
Rosenberg quits Feminist Initiative
After weeks of media pressure, hate mail and threats, Tiina Rosenberg, who co-founded Sweden's feminist party, couldn't stand the heat - so she's getting out of the kitchen. READ () »
Six hour work day does not work
Sweden's feminist and left parties are pushing for a six hour work day. But one of the pioneers of the policy, Kiruna council, is scrapping it after 16 years saying that it does not improve workers' health. READ () »
Feminist professor accused of plagiarism
Leading feminist politician and academic, Tiina Rosenberg, has been accused of plagiarism. Political science researcher, Johan Tralau, believes that gender politics has been put before academic rigour. READ () »
Swedish church says yes to gay blessings
Gay church weddings come one step closer, as an influential church organ says that same-sex couples can have their partnerships blessed in churches. A step in the right direction, say gay campaigners. READ () »
Left Party seizes the Feminist Initiative
Sweden's Left Party proposes a Ministry for Equality, a new agency for equality issues, company board quotas and gender-balanced state funding of associations. Just like the country's feminist party, FI. READ () »
Men still earning more than women
The difference in salaries between men and women remains, according to equality-related supplements in this year's budget. READ () »
Volvo discriminated against short woman
A Swedish labour court rules that Volvo Cars was guilty of gender discrimination when the car maker rejected several job applications from a woman because she was too short. READ () »
Feminist party loses another founder
To lose one founder is understandable. To lose two is worrying. But to lose three - amid much mudslinging - in as many weeks is a PR disaster for Sweden's Feminist Initiative. READ () »
Feminists call for abolition of marriage
Couples are so passé. Sweden's Feminist Initiative wants to replace marriage and gay partnerships with a cohabitation law that applies to more than two people. A man with eight wives is not the target, says founder Tiina Rosenberg. READ () »
Half of Swedish police trainees are women
As the autumn term at the Swedish Police Academy begins, the girls in blue have achieved equality. And on one course, they even outnumber the boys. READ () »
"Give people in suburbs job preference"
People who live in segregated areas should be preferred over other job applicants. That's the conclusion of a government investigator, who says that discrimination against immigrants is leading to a "them and us" society. READ () »
Government equality unit slammed for inequality
Only 3 out of 28 staff in the unit for coordinating equality policies are men. That's because men do not have the relevant competence for dealing with equality issues, says Equality Minister Jens Orback, who is a man. READ () »
Feminist party founder quits
One of the founders of Sweden's Feminist Initiative has quit - before it even becomes a fully-operational political party. There were difficulties in working together, says Ebba Witt-Brattström. READ () »
"Loan a lesbian" idea to promote tolerance
Visitors to Malmö Library can now take out a real live person instead of a book. An imam, a homosexual and a journalist are among those on offer to those wanting to challenge their own prejudices. READ () »
Sweden's feminists want a man
The Feminist Initiative, the focal point of Sweden's feminist movement and soon-to-be-political party, unveils a secret weapon for the next election: a man. READ () »
Record number of women in Swedish prisons
This is one step towards equality that Sweden won't be boasting about: in the last five years the number of women in prison has increased by 50%. Tougher punishment for drugs offences is behind the rise, say criminologists. READ () »
Feminists seize Left Party ground
A six hour working day, forced paternity leave - just two of the ideas proposed by Sweden's fledgling feminist party, the Feminist Initiative. The trouble is, it all sounds very familiar to the Left Party... READ () »
Swedish equality policies "do not go far enough"
The Swedish government's equality policies have failed. That's the conclusion of an independent inquiry, which recommends a massive tax cut for single mothers, a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women - and a new government agency to oversee it all. READ () »
Controversial women's shelter chairwoman resigns
Ireen von Wachenfeldt, chairwoman of ROKS and famed for her "men are animals" outburst has finally called it a day and resigned. The organisation can now get on with its work in peace and quiet, she says. READ () »
High profile laws come into force
1 July means a host of new laws come into force in Sweden. After all the talk, it now really is illegal for private individuals to download music from the internet and for your local salon to charge Mrs Svensson more than Mr Svensson for a haircut. READ () »
Swedish equality makes men violent ? ex-minister
Increased sex equality leads to violence against women. That's the view of Margareta Winberg, quoted in a Brazilian paper that cites feminist Eva Lundgren's claim that 40 percent of Swedish women have been hit by men. READ () »
Women "don't face wage discrimination"
The difference between women and men's wages is not down to discrimination, but due to the different jobs they choose. That's according to a new report by Sweden's leading business interest organisation. READ () »
Sex will sell women's football - Swedish supremo
In a most un-Swedish pronouncement, Lennart Johansson, the 75 year old head of European football, says that if the women's game is to take off it needs to make more of the "sweaty, lovely looking girls" in sponsorship and promotion. READ () »
Porn-free hotels draw in more Swedes
Hotel guests who want to be sure not to stumble over porn on their bedroom television can now choose a 'porn-free' establishment from a catalogue released this week. READ () »
Swedish company boards "could face sex quotas"
Sweden may be The Most Equal Country in The World® but the higher up the corporate ladder women climb, the more slippery it becomes. Now Justice Minister Thomas Bodström says men's dominance of business is "unnacceptable". READ () »
Feminists in brawl outside Stockholm sex club
A violent clash outside a Stockholm sex club between feminist protestors and the club's staff and clients leaves several people injured and leads to 24 arrests. READ () »
Swedish teenagers in wet t-shirt row
Teenage girls got up on stage at a bar in Stockholm in g-strings and t-shirts, as organisers proceeded to drench them in water. Offensive, says one girl who was there. All in good fun – and alcohol-free – say the bar owners. READ () »
Gays "treated insensitively" by health service
Gay people face prejudice when they come into contact with the Swedish health service, a new report suggests. The system assumes that everyone is heterosexual, it is argued. READ () »
New dads ?should get a month off?
Fathers of new-born babies should be allowed to spend the first month of their child's life at home. The government's investigator says that his plan will help families bond. READ () »
Lesbian kiss costs restaurant 50,000 kronor
Two years ago a Stockholm restaurant owner threw out a lesbian couple for kissing and cuddling at a table. On Monday a court ruled that he had broken Sweden's ever-tightening discrimination laws and forced him to cough up compensation. READ () »
Miss Sweden cancelled after "feminist harassment"
In the blue corner, it's the bikini king himself, Panos Papadopoulos! And in the pink corner, it's Sweden's feisty feminists! And the feminists land the first blow, forcing the bikini king to cancel this year's Miss Sweden pageant. READ () »
Stricter rules proposed on Swedish parental leave
Swedish parents enjoy one of the world's most generous systems for parental leave, but probably not for much longer: the government's investigator wants to introduce stricter rules. READ () »
Feminist party founder accused of benefits fraud
Feminists could clinch it for the Right
After a triumphant launch on Monday, Sweden's new femininist party, Feminist Initiative, has hit its first snag. For the last five years one of its founders and most active participants has been claiming sickness benefit for being "burnt out".
READ () »
No more hotel porn for Swedish government officials
Swedish civil servants and politicians will no longer be able to stay at hotels that offer pornographic channels as a government agency blacklists accommodation with x-rated viewing options. READ () »
Schyman launches "Feminist Initiative"
Amidst much fanfare, Gudrun Schyman finally launches her feminist party "Feministiskt initiativ" at a press conference in parliament. There was no official leader, no manifesto and it isn't really a proper party yet, but nobody seemed to care. READ () »
Are women the future of Swedish politics and business?
Sweden's media was packed with coverage of International Women's Day, with news of a feminist party, women's networks, female business leaders and so on. But women are still under-represented in councils, parliament and boardrooms. Can this ever change? READ () »
Feminist party "could undermine government"
International Women's Day brings intensified rumours of a new feminist party - much to the dismay of Sweden's social democrats, whose party secretary Marita Ulvskog marked the occasion by launching a new feminist network. Plus: what kind of feminist are you? READ () »
Men on top in Swedish business
According to a report out today by Swedish industry watchdog Svensk Näringsliv, the skills of many competent and experienced Swedish women are going to waste. READ () »
Lesbian couples to get right to insemination
Reports from Swedish Radio suggest that lesbian couples will be put on the same footing as heterosexual couples regarding the right to insemination and test tube fertilisation. READ () »
"Equality bonus" for parents who share parental leave
Last year Sweden's fathers only took 18% of the parental leave they were entitled to. That's not good enough for the government, which is now considering introducing financial incentives to lure dads away from the workplace. READ () »
Nine out of ten women ?lose out by working?
There’s little incentive for Swedish women to work, according to a new report. When lunch and travel costs are deducted, most working women would have been better off staying at home on sick leave. READ () »
"Thousands blacklisted" in Malmö property scandal
'Black with a French accent', 'Bosnian', 'has a brother who's a real troublemaker', 'has been beaten by her husband' - just some of the reasons why Malmö property company MKB has allegedly stopped thousands of tenants from hiring an apartment. READ () »
Child benefit "discriminates against fathers"
In another step towards Sweden becoming the superpower of gender equality, the Minister for Social Affairs says fathers who hold the baby should hold the child benefit book too. READ () »
Why is the divorce rate so high in Sweden?
Lovers of freedom - or freedom of lovers? The degradation of family values caused by a misguided obsession with equality and lack of moral awareness - or something in the water? Answers please - a reader needs to know. READ () »
One in five Swedes could vote for feminist party
A new poll adds credibility to rumours that Left Party black sheep Gudrun Schyman is planning her own feminist party. And then another unpaid bill undermines that credibility. READ () »
Why is Sweden so hot on gender equality?
True enlightenment or a veil hiding old-fashioned values? The way forward or stuck in the past? Answers please. READ () »
Media glee as Schyman quits Left Party
Why is Sweden so hot on gender equality?
First she stopped drinking, then she stopped reporting her taxes correctly. Then she stepped down as leader of the Left party, and now she's leaving the party entirely. Every time Gudrun Schyman calls it quits, the headlines just get bigger.
READ () »
Swedish boys "more intolerant than girls"
What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and all things nice! What are little boys made of? Homophobia and racism, apparently. READ () »
The great equality debate - whither Swedish women?
Female politicians threatened with violence and too few women in the boardroom. Girls are doing better at school - but even that's just a trap, apparently. No wonder more Swedish women want to get their kit off for the camera. READ () »
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