Families in Dreamland

Abstract

What the activists are not willing to admit is that the ‘equality program’ has failed when it comes to changing people’s fundamental attitudes. For example, although Swedish parental leave is neutral with respect to sex, it is overwhelmingly mothers who have taken advantage of it. In 1974, parliament allowed either parent to take the paid leave (in addition to the father’s ten days fully paid time off at childbirth). In 1979, changes in family law explicitly said that spouses should share breadwinning, housework and child care. By 1983 there were widely publicised ‘working parties’ to study and engineer men’s role change. In 1987, the father’s eligibility for leave was no longer dependent upon the mother’s work record.