Gender equality in the welfare state model

Finland and the other Nordic countries are internationally recognized to be countries of the high level of gender equality (Jauhola and Kantola, 2016, p.189). Also, all of the

interviewees perceive that gender equality is very typical for Finland. Interviewee four defines gender equality as something that belongs to everyone; not only regarding one’s gender. This person notes that Finns have used to grow up with the idea that there are no hierarchies between people from different backgrounds.

Well, I think, I perceive that equality belongs to everyone. That somehow in Finland we tend to grow up with the fact that people are not treated hierarchically, but that everyone is equal. Not just gender equality, but overall.

The model is somehow built into our society.

No kyl mun mielestä itte nään, että tasa-arvo kuuluu kaikille. Että jotenkin sillä lailla Suomessa on tottunut kasvamaan siihen, että ihmisiä ei kohdella hierarkkisesti, vaan kaikki on tasa-arvoisia. Ettei pelkästään sukupuolten välinen tasa-arvo, vaan ylipäätään. Se on jotenkin meidän yhteiskunnassa sisäänrakennettu se malli.

(Interview 4)

Informants in the second, third, fourth and fifth interviews express that gender equality is at the core of the welfare state model. Expert in the second interview presents that in Namibia they tried to highlight the Nordic values, and according to the interviewee it is appropriate to “help Namibian women and girls” if possible. Later the second expert expresses that equality in the Finnish welfare state is formed well because of basic education. Also, the fifth expert underlines an effect of basic education and states that the welfare model is based on equality. Interviewee three says that the Finnish social system is based on equality, and due to the long history in that, Finns should make an appearance.

Equality might be seen as something that is very Finnish. Experts in the second, third and seventh interviews speak about the relation of national policies and development policies from the viewpoint of gender equality. The interviewee five acknowledges that the Finnish welfare model is based on equality.

Development cooperation since the 1960s, bilaterally, has shown that it will not work unless women are involved. And yes, this our model of society and welfare model, after all, it is based on equality. And now it has been seen, more experience has been gained, to be able to apply it in practice also, in our projects and different countries. Then I do not know, even today in Finland if you think we have obtained a primary school system, which is one kind of an idea of

equality. And then we have equality in all kinds of our schools, in early childhood education, more than ever before.

Kehitysyhteistyötä on tehty 60-luvulta lähtien, kahdenvälistä, niin on nähty se, että se ei toimi jos ei naisia ota mukaan siihen. Ja kyllä tää meidän yhteiskuntamalli ja hyvinvointimalli, kyllähän se perustuu tasa-arvoon. Ja nyt on nähty sitä, on tullut kokemusta enempi, et pystyy soveltaa sitä käytännössä myöskin, meidän hankkeissa ja eri maissa. Sitten mä en tiedä, nykyään myöskin Suomessa, jos ajattelee et meil on tullut peruskoulujärjestelmä, joka on tällainen tietty tasa-arvo ajatus. Sit meil on kaikenlaisis omissa koululaitoksissa, varhaiskasvatuksessa, tää tasa-arvo enempi kuin aikaisemmin.

(Interview 5)

Regarding the expert, equality in Finnish society has progressed. Consequently, the equality of society has influenced Finnish development policies and cooperation. According to previous literature, women’s rights and equality politics have been part of Finnish development- and foreign policies since the 70’s “women in development” rhetoric (Jauhola and Kantola, 2016, p.201). The fifth informant justifies the claim by giving an example of current party politics when the interview was conducted in 2019: according to the expert, there were more women which makes it more equal. Also, this person suggests, that Finland’s support for example to UN Women, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, proves that national policies impact development policies and cooperation as well.

…And if you think about ours, now this new Parliament, there is the status of women ... there are more women than before. It has become more equal. Today, there are far more women in different parties. There are parties. where there are chairmen, there are more women in the government as ministers than before.

Has been president, has been prime minister, speaker. So, in a way Finland’s, even in our society, equality has progressed in practice. Yes, it is also reflected in development cooperation and development policy. And then just these everything, in the UN it has done breakthrough lot stronger. Like this UNI Fem for example or UN Women nowadays it is. And we Nordic countries are very much in favor of it. So, all of it will affect.

Ja jos aattelet meidän, no nyt tää uus eduskuntakin, siellä naisten asema…naisia on enempi kuin aikaisemmin. Se on muuttunut tasa-arvoisemmaksi. Naisia on nykyään paljon enempi eri puolueissa. On puolueita. joissa on puheenjohtajina, hallituksessa on ministerinä enempi naisia kuin ennen. On ollut presidenttinä, on ollut pääministerinä, puhemiehenä. Tavallaan siis Suomen, meidän omassakin yhteiskunnassa on tasa-arvo edennyt käytännössä. Kyllä se heijastuu myöskin kehitysyhteistyöhön ja kehityspolitiikkaan. Ja sitten just nää kaikki YK:ssa se on paljon vahvemmin lyöny läpi, et just tää UNI Fem esimerkiksi, tai UN Women

taitaa olla nykyään se. Ja me Pohjoismaat ollaan tuettu kovasti sitä. Et kyllä kaikella tällasella on vaikutusta.

(Interview 5)

Image of Finland as an active promoter of women’s rights has long been a notable part of Finnish development policies (Jauhola and Kantola, 2016, p.189). The fifth expert present that the Finnish state feminism (Julkunen, 2016, p.213) and welfare model have shaped development policies throughout history. Women friendly social policies push Finland towards an even more equal society. The result is that Finland wanted to focus more on equality related questions in development policies. Expert in the seventh interview draws discussion back to the 1970s: Finnish development program was founded on the welfare model. According to the informant, it was the only way of thinking at the time. Furthermore, two other experts signified in their interviews that Finnish national policies influenced development policies.

The second informant underlines that development policies are an instrument to promote important Finnish values. The expert states that gender equality is one of these national values. Therefore, it is necessary to shape development policies to be sure that they meet the value of equality. Also, the third interviewee claims that due to the equal social structures of Finland, the same values should be included in the development programs.

The seventh informant tells that they used to promote equality in Namibia, because equality is something very Finnish, according to the expert. Finns working in Namibia aimed to share the story of progressing women’s strong position in Finland. All in all, women-friendly atmosphere and equality have been constantly moving and evolving in Finnish society since the beginning of constructing the welfare model (Jauhola, 2012, pp.316-317).

Men and women are presented as similar in the welfare model. A gender-neutral citizen who participates in the labor market is the ideal of social policies. Equality has happened when women are neutral and active in society also outside of the home sphere. (Kuusipalo, 2002, pp.212-213.) The experts’ views are heteronormative and represent the approach to gender as similar categories. The interviewees approach equality as a consequence and achievement of the welfare state and female-friendly policies. For example, the fifths expert mentions

women’s participation in politics. This person and the second interviewee signify the Finnish education system which fosters equality according to them.