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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