Policy Press
Fourteen Sweden: individualisation or free choice in parental leave?
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Anders Chronholm
Abstract
In 1974, the development of the Swedish parental leave policy was begun. The introduction of leave policy in Sweden was seen as an example of strategic actions from different political institutions. This chapter argues that political institutions not only act but also create cultural norms that influence public opinion. The development of Swedish parental leave policy showed how an academic elite can produce a theoretical basis for political decisions. Sweden was the first country to introduce parental leave. This could be explained as a result of the academic and political debates in the country in the 1960s. These debates led to the adoption of new ideas among leading politicians. New ideas about equality emerged wherein both women and men were deemed significant in the role theory, making men part of the ‘problem’. Gender role and gender equality eventually emerged in the parental leave policies of Sweden. In this chapter, the three main terms that illustrate the changing political focus in the country are discussed: the focus on ‘maternal policy’ during the beginning of the century; the ‘population policy’ during the 1930s; and the ‘family policy’ during the 1950s. One of the most important changes in Swedish parental leave since its introduction in 1974 was its individualisation. The Family Policy Committee regarded gender equality in the use of parental leave as a long-term measure that should be based on free choice and negotiations inside families. From the introduction of the second individualised month in 2002 to the radical proposals in the inquiry of 2005, the Social Democrats have shown that individualisation of parental leave has become part of Social Democrat family policy.
Abstract
In 1974, the development of the Swedish parental leave policy was begun. The introduction of leave policy in Sweden was seen as an example of strategic actions from different political institutions. This chapter argues that political institutions not only act but also create cultural norms that influence public opinion. The development of Swedish parental leave policy showed how an academic elite can produce a theoretical basis for political decisions. Sweden was the first country to introduce parental leave. This could be explained as a result of the academic and political debates in the country in the 1960s. These debates led to the adoption of new ideas among leading politicians. New ideas about equality emerged wherein both women and men were deemed significant in the role theory, making men part of the ‘problem’. Gender role and gender equality eventually emerged in the parental leave policies of Sweden. In this chapter, the three main terms that illustrate the changing political focus in the country are discussed: the focus on ‘maternal policy’ during the beginning of the century; the ‘population policy’ during the 1930s; and the ‘family policy’ during the 1950s. One of the most important changes in Swedish parental leave since its introduction in 1974 was its individualisation. The Family Policy Committee regarded gender equality in the use of parental leave as a long-term measure that should be based on free choice and negotiations inside families. From the introduction of the second individualised month in 2002 to the radical proposals in the inquiry of 2005, the Social Democrats have shown that individualisation of parental leave has become part of Social Democrat family policy.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables and figures iv
- Acknowledgements v
- Notes on contributors vi
- Introduction 1
- Australia: the difficult birth of paid maternity leave 15
- Canada and Québec: two policies, one country 33
- Czech Republic: normative or choice-oriented system? 51
- Estonia: halfway from the Soviet Union to the Nordic countries 69
- Finland: negotiating tripartite compromises 87
- France: gender equality a pipe dream? 103
- Germany: taking a Nordic turn? 119
- Hungary and Slovenia: long leave or short? 135
- Iceland: from reluctance to fast-track engineering 159
- The Netherlands: bridging labour and care 175
- Norway: the making of the father’s quota 191
- Portugal and Spain: two pathways in Southern Europe 207
- Sweden: individualisation or free choice in parental leave? 227
- The European directive: making supra-national parental leave policy 243
- Conclusion 259
- Demographic, gender and early childhood policy indicators for case study countries (2005, 2006) 273
- Index 275
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables and figures iv
- Acknowledgements v
- Notes on contributors vi
- Introduction 1
- Australia: the difficult birth of paid maternity leave 15
- Canada and Québec: two policies, one country 33
- Czech Republic: normative or choice-oriented system? 51
- Estonia: halfway from the Soviet Union to the Nordic countries 69
- Finland: negotiating tripartite compromises 87
- France: gender equality a pipe dream? 103
- Germany: taking a Nordic turn? 119
- Hungary and Slovenia: long leave or short? 135
- Iceland: from reluctance to fast-track engineering 159
- The Netherlands: bridging labour and care 175
- Norway: the making of the father’s quota 191
- Portugal and Spain: two pathways in Southern Europe 207
- Sweden: individualisation or free choice in parental leave? 227
- The European directive: making supra-national parental leave policy 243
- Conclusion 259
- Demographic, gender and early childhood policy indicators for case study countries (2005, 2006) 273
- Index 275
