It is important to realize that both Denmark have almost similar cultures. Both nations are located in Northern Europe. As Nordic states both Denmark and Sweden have sort to create more equity and equality in its citizenry. This is meant to make sure that every member of these societies enjoys the right to opportunities in spite of their class, gender, or social status. This paper will compared women friendly policies in both Sweden and Denmark.
First of all, it is important to note that both Sweden and Denmark are ranked as being some of the richest nations in the world in terms of per capita income. This success in these two countries can be attributed to the fact that both nations have transitioned from the traditional agrarian economies that only in cooperated men towards industrialization of market so as to expand the public sector. These economic actions have created a situation whereby there are more opportunities for women to work in the public sector. This has helped women move from the service sector so that there are now able to play a role in other sectors of the economy. These moves by these governments have placed these nations at the top of the world in terms of the nations that have the highest proportion of women working in the public sector. This is an economic model that needs to be emulated in the world as nations seek to strengthen their democracy and make sure that women are involved in the economic and political lives in their countries. This also creates a situation whereby families have dual-breadwinner so that women are less dependent on men economically (Lister, 2009, p.248). Unlike other nations around the world where women are not allowed to vote and participate in the political wellbeing of their nations, both Denmark and Sweden have allowed their women population to enjoy their suffrage rights. In this way women are actively involved in the election of leaders ascending to power in these two nations. The venturing of women in the private sector is also another important women-friendly policy that has been adopted in both Denmark and Sweden. Before the 1970s it was only men who were involved in private investments such as the ownership of shares and bonds. However, women have also been allowed to participate in this private investment and other kinds of business innovation and entrepreneurship. Despite the success that both nations have achieved in terms of formulating women friendly policies, the fact remains that there is more that needs to be done in order to make sure that more equality is realized between men and women. Some challenges such as high levels of immigration continue to change some of the welfare programs that are offered by the government such as universal healthcare (Lena Andersson-Skog, 2007, p.451). Women stand to benefit from these welfare programs because they can enjoy benefits such as affordable maternity care, which reduces the number of child mortality in the two nations.
In spite of the similarities that exist in both Denmark and Sweden in terms of women-friendly policies the fact remains that Sweden has better family friendly policies in terms of allowing women to come back to the workforce after maternal leave. Unlike Denmark, Sweden acknowledges the idea of shared parental responsibility in child birth and therefore extends flexible maternal leaves to both parents. This is not the situation in Denmark. Therefore, both Denmark and Sweden have almost similar women friendly policies largely due to the similarity in cultures between both nations.
Reference List
Andersson-Skog, L. (2007). In the Shadow of the Swedish Welfare State: Women and the Service Sector. The Business History Review. 81 (3), p451-470.
Lister, R. (2009). A Nordic Nirvana: Gender, Citizenship, and Social Justice in the Nordic Welfare States. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State and Society. 16 (2), p242-278.
