Home of the "new father"?

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

2. ”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

3. ”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

4. ”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

5. 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!”

6. Conclusions (1976-2000) • Equality on male terms • Fatherhood as ”consumption” rather than ”production” • Men as secondary parents

7. Images of fatherhood and gender equality 2001-2006 • Half each! • Parenthood, rather than fatherhood • Children’s rights

8. Conclusions 2001-2006 • Men as primary, rather than secondary parents • ”Parents” rather than ”dads” • Back to the radical redistribution logic of the 1960s

9. 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