Home of the "new father"? Historical perspectives on Swedish parental leave policy

”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

”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

”New” fatherhood as pedagogical project 1976: the “Hoa Hoa” campaign 13 Nation wide campaigns, 20 local campaigns ( ) National Social Insurance Office, National Board of Health and Welfare, Government Ministries, Equal Opportunity Ombudsman and many more

Images of fatherhood and gender equality 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!”

Conclusions ( ) Equality on male terms Fatherhood as ”consumption” rather than ”production” Men as secondary parents

Images of fatherhood and gender equality Half each! Parenthood, rather than fatherhood Children’s rights

Conclusions Men as primary, rather than secondary parents  ”Parents” rather than ”dads” Back to the radical redistribution logic of the 1960s

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