Over the past year, the Nordic countries have taken joint action to promote gender equality. Police officers as well as preschool teachers have been invited to share experiences and find solutions with their Nordic colleagues.

2021 is now over. The Finnish Presidency has rounded off a year in which there have been many opportunities to learn from each other in the area of gender equality and LGBTI issues in the Nordic region.

Hanna Onwen-Huma, Chair of the Nordic Committee of Senior Officials for Gender Equality and LGBTI (ÄK-JÄM), mention the two-day conference ‘Gender-based Hate, Threat and Harassment on the Internet’ in the summer as an example.

“Victimisation online is a problem we see across the Nordic region, and we can benefit from looking at each other’s work,” she says.

The key takeaways from the conference have been summarised by independent expert Elina Nikulainen. Hanna Onwen-Huma believes that the police in the Nordic countries can benefit greatly from working together to find solutions.

“We see that online harassment often falls through the cracks with the police. Their work is divided up in such a way that some work on cybercrime and others on sexual harassment, and they do not interact. This is a problem throughout the Nordic region,” she says.

Focus on early childhood education

Another issue that has been in focus during the Finnish Presidency is gender equality in early childhood education. The work in the Nordic region has been mapped in the report “Changing Stereotypes and Breaking Traditions”. Using the report as a starting point, a seminar was held in early September for preschool teachers on how they can improve the preschool’s gender equality efforts in relation to the children.

“This is an important question because we know that what we learn as children influences the life choices we see as possible, and this is also reflected later in life,” says Hanna Onwen-Huma.

Hate targeting LGBTI people

In the LGBTI area, the Nordic Council of Ministers has a particular focus on hate crime in 2021. A survey was carried out on what different countries are doing in this area, and a seminar was held at the end of November focusing on successful examples.

“It brought together different actors such as police officers and representatives of LGBTI organisations. I think it was very fruitful,” says Hanna Onwen-Huma.

One challenge in the work to prevent hate crime is that many victims do not report it to the police.  

“We need to change this, and we can see that the results are better when the police and LGBTI organisations work together,” says Hanna Onwen-Huma.

Online during the pandemic

Many of the activities during the year had to be carried out online due to the pandemic.

“In practical terms, this meant extra work as we had to reschedule several times at the last minute, but I don’t think the quality has suffered,” says Hanna Onwen-Huma.

The only event it was not possible to hold was the conference ‘Nordic Fathers on Paternity Leave’. It was due to be held in 2021 but has been postponed until March 2022.

Norway takes over the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers for 2022.

“They have excellent plans for the area of gender equality next year,” says Hanna Onwen-Huma, and explains that these include looking more closely at the anti-gender debate from a global perspective.

“The Nordic countries will join forces to see how we can fight against this movement, which is attacking the work to strengthen the rights of girls, women and LGBTI people.”

The report entitled Hate crimes targeting LGBTI people in the Nordic countries describes how these countries are working to capture and combat hate crime targeting LGBTI people and points out important actors, strategies and legislation.

– All people should be able to live and work in the Nordic countries without fear of hatred, threats and discrimination. This report gives us a better basis for improving the situation of LGBTI people by pointing to what efforts are needed. For example, decision makers, the authorities and civil society all need to work together in better ways, says Thomas Blomqvist, Finland’s Minister for Gender Equality.

The report presents how the police and the legal system work when it comes to hate crimes in each country for example. It also gives examples of knowledge-enhancement initiatives and support for victims of crime. The role and efforts of civil society are also a focus.

Preventive efforts common

A somewhat positive picture of the trend in the Nordic countries in recent decades emerges from the report, which names new legislation protecting LGBTI people against hatred and discrimination as a contributing factor to this. The majority of these countries are also working to prevent and identify hate crimes against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Often, a number of authorities and civil society organisations are involved in this work.

Other factors that point in a positive direction are that hate crimes are prioritised by the police in many of these countries. It is also common to keep statistics on how often and where hate crimes take place in order to enhance knowledge about them. Many of these countries are also engaged in knowledge-enhancing measures which aim to get more people to report these crimes, or to improve the skills of those who encounter the victims of these crimes in their work.

A number of challenges for these countries in combating hate crime emerge from the report – challenges related to the work of the police and how cooperation between different actors functions. Examples of these challenges are that the police sometimes fail to recognise hate motives in crimes, and that those groups that are particularly at risk of hate crime often lack confidence in the police. These are factors which make it more difficult to solve hate crimes. The report also highlights the need to improve cooperation between the police and civil society crime victim support activities.

Several initiatives to improve the situation of LGBTI people in the Nordic countries

This report is one of several initiatives within the framework of the regional LGBTI strategy adopted by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2020. Previous initiatives have focused on the health and well-being of young LGBTI people and next year a research review of the living conditions of older LGBTI people is planned. The report Hate crimes targeting LGBTI people in the Nordic countries was produced by Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK) on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

It will be presented in conjunction with the Nordic Council of Ministers’ seminar LGBTI People’s Safety and Well-being – Good Practices in the Nordics held in Helsinki on 30 November.

Read the full report here (PDF)
An accessible version of the publication can be found here

In a mapping, differences in women’s and men’s lifestyles and consumption in the Nordic countries will be examined. Through current knowledge, the mapping aims to make gender stereotypes visible and challenged in relation to consumption and lifestyle, and contribute to a better understanding of how differences arise, are strengthened and reproduced.

‘The project aims to illustrate gender differences in lifestyles and consumption and the need for future policies and practices to integrate gender aspects into sustainable consumption. As gender equality is key in order to achieve a sustainable Nordic region, the project contributes greatly to the vision of the Nordic Council of Ministers of becoming the most sustainable and integrated region in the world in 2030’, says Kristin Mattsson, steering group member of the cross-sectoral Nordic programme.

Sustainability and lifestyle concepts will be studied and analysed from a broad intersectional gender perspective, in relation to themes raised in the cross-sectoral program on sustainable lifestyles. These can be, for example, communication about sustainability, education for sustainability, sustainable cultural and food experiences.

Critical and intersectional perspectives will be included thoroughly to make visible and problematize how different power structures intersect, for example how class and age affect both consumption habits and norms around consumption.

By analysing sustainability and lifestyle from a gender perspective, the project contributes to improving understanding and opportunities for sustainable consumption. The knowledge mapping will be launched in autumn 2022.

About the Sustainable lifestyles in the Nordic region programme

The cross-sectoral programme Sustainable lifestyles in the Nordic region programme is a collaboration between the Nordic co-operations for sustainable development, environment and climate, food, culture, education and research, gender equality and Nordbuk, the Nordic committee for children and youth. The programme is carried out 2021-2024 and aims to make it easier and more attractive for Nordic consumers to prioritise healthy and climate and environmental friendly choices. Through several cross-sectorial initiatives, it will contribute to fasten the normalisation of sustainable lifestyles in the Nordic region.

The programme, as well as the project focusing on gender perspectives on sustainably contribute to the Nordic vision, especially the part concerning a green Nordic region, as well as several of the Sustainable Development Goals in Agenda 2030.

During spring 2021, the Nordic Gender Equality Fund was open for applications for funding for the ninth year in a row. The call for proposals has resulted in six new, Nordic co-operation projects in the gender equality area. Read more about the projects and their work on the projects’ respective pages.

Projects granted funding by the Nordic Gender Equality Fund 2021

• Equal pensions – sustainable welfare systems

• Inclusive Mediation to Sustain Peace
  
• New Nordic Narratives – changing our future story landscape
  
• Profiling Nordic Perpetrators of Gendered Online Abuse: Who, Why and How to Curb the Harm
  
• Recognising Sexual Violence: Developing Pathways to Survivor-Centred Justice
  
• Safe Schools – A Nordic Method for Student Participation and Norm Criticism
  

The Nordic Gender Equality Fund is administrated by NIKK on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Information about the call for proposals for 2022 will be available later on this year. Read more about the fund here.

In order to develop new and effective efforts to combat sexual harassment in the workplace, evidence- and research-based knowledge is essential. In light of this, the Nordic Council of Ministers has decided to support a Nordic research initiative, in co-peration between several sectors within the Nordic collaboration. Sectors involved include gender equality, culture, working life and the Nordic Committee for Children and Young People.  The research initiative consists of two open calls for proposals, both launched in 2021. 

“Open Call 2 is aimed at researchers and working life actors in the Nordic region who intend to initiate practice-oriented research activities with high quality, in close collaboration. The projects should have a Nordic benefit by contributing with new knowledge on sexual harassment in the workplace in the Nordic region”, says Maria Grönroos, co-ordinator for the research initiative, administered by NIKK, Nordic Information on Knowledge on gender. 

Industry-specific or industry comparative approach  

Industries face in part different, and in part, similar challenges. There is therefore potential for synergies if local analyses are also tied to more generic knowledge about sexual harassment and interventions, and if co-operation between industries occurs. Comparisons between different industries could provide a clear understanding of industry-specific and cross-industry challenges and opportunities.  The applications should be based on partnership between at least three Nordic countries/areas of the Nordic region.  

 
Interdisciplinarity, intersectionality and defining concepts  

Sexual harassment in the workplace touches on many areas of knowledge – from work sciences research to research on health, organisations, power, violence, etc. For sustainable and robust knowledge, proposals are encouraged to include interdisciplinary approaches to their projects.   

Intersectional approaches where aspects of a person’s social and political identities combine to create different discrimination modes and privilege are relevant to managing sexual harassment at work.  

“International research shows that people belonging to minority groups, or at risk of harassing due to attributes such as age, disability or sexuality, also have greater risk of being sexually harassed. Proposals are encouraged to address the diversified and complex reality in working life to contribute to well-targeted and effective prevention and new intervention methods”, says Maria Grönroos. 

The lack of clear definitions of concepts related to sexual harassment makes it difficult to work in the area. The legal construction of the term sexual harassment provides limited space to understand the phenomenon or what the victim experiences sexual harassment. A recommendation is to require reflection and clarity of the use of terms and interpretation of these conditions in the projects.  

Digital information meeting on 2 September  

A digital info meeting will be organised for those who have questions about the call and plan to apply: Thursday, 2 September, 13.00-14:30 CET .

Interested in participating? Please email maria.gronroos@genus.gu.se no later than 30 August.  

NIKK is a Nordic cooperation body under the Nordic Council of Ministers. NIKK collect and disseminate knowledge about politics and practice, facts and research in the area of ​​gender equality in a Nordic perspective. 

The strategy for new Nordic co-operation on improving conditions for LGBTI people will be put into effect in 2021. Part of this work is the new Fund, which aims to promote Nordic co-operation in the LGBTI area.  

“LGBTI people should be able to live free, open and good lives in the Nordic countries. The Nordic LGBTI Fund is an important part of achieving this. The Fund is a unique way of supporting work for change in the Nordic countries in the LGBTI area,” says Thomas Blomqvist, Finland’s Minister for Nordic Co-operation and Gender Equality. 

Projects that contribute to work for equal rights, equal treatment and equal opportunities for LGBTI people in the Nordic countries can apply for financing from the Fund. A total of DKK 238,000 will be distributed. NIKK is the administrator of the Nordic LGBTI Fund on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers and will accept applications after the summer of 2021.  

As with the Nordic Gender Equality Fund, actors from at least three Nordic countries need to be involved in each application. Thanks to this co-operation, knowledge is growing and being shared across borders. We are finding common solutions and learning from each other. The activities should start during 2021 and are to be carried out within two years. The funding can be used to develop common methods and new knowledge, and to hold conferences and build networks, etc. 

“The new Fund will strengthen the work to ensure equal rights, equal treatment and equal opportunities for LGBTI people in the Nordic countries. We know that there is a great deal of expertise, knowledge and the will to drive this development forward, in particular in civil society. And we hope that this will be reflected in the applications received,” says Thomas Blomqvist. 
 

Preliminary important dates for the Nordic LGBTI Fund

You need to apply via a form, which will be available from nikk.no during the application period. 

• 1 September – the call opens  
• 30 September – deadline for applications  

• November/December – decisions notified to applicants  
• December – contracts will be signed 

 
Read more about the Nordic LGBTI Fund here.

On assignment from the Nordic Council of Ministers, NIKK has produced the report Genusperspektiv på framtidens högteknologiska arbetsliv – En nordisk forskningsöversikt om utbildningsval inom STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) [Gender perspective on the high-tech labour market of the future – A Nordic research overview on education choices within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)]”. The report provides an overall picture of what the research says, and make an inventory and analysis of initiatives in the STEM sector in the Nordic countries. An international outlook gives examples of how countries outside the Nordic countries are handling skewed recruitment to the STEM area.

“The picture is clear. Globally as well as in the Nordic countries, these initiatives generally aim in various ways to change girls and women rather than challenge gendered privilege, organisations or the gender norms surrounding science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other science subjects. This renders the structural barriers that exist invisible,” says Ulrika Jansson, who wrote the report together with Jimmy Sand.

Furthermore, in these initiatives, there is an assumption that women need to be inspired and supported through role models and mentoring.

“Most likely some of these initiatives do help girls and women to fit into courses and study programmes and professions dominated by men and a masculine subject area and occupational culture. But they are unlikely to challenge either established privilege or norms, nor to lead to radical change in mainstream activities and the organisation of work,” says Ulrika Jansson.

The need for a broader approach

The report shows that a much broader approach is needed. Looking at the situation from an organisation theory gender perspective, clear patterns emerge. Explanatory models for gendered study choices, gender-segregated labour markets and gender imbalance in the STEM area show very clearly that notions, assumptions and norms about gender, women and men, femininity and masculinity, set the framework and stipulate the terms for people’s scope for action. Heterosexuality is the norm and ethnicity or functional diversity is in principle not visible at all.

“Connections between men, masculinity and technical knowledge are created in everyday practices and are neither natural nor universal. These connections are made in a variety of ways, by different actors and in different contexts,” says Jimmy Sand.

In addition, there are norms in the education system, with gendered ideals of science, knowledge and science subjects that create limits for inclusive and sustainable education and a sustainable working life.

“All in all, these norms set the terms for both men’s and women’s study and career choices and in the labour market, at both the individual and structural levels. Terms where the outcome does not benefit women, but does benefit men,” says Jimmy Sand. For a sustainable and gender-equal working life in the future, it is important to ask other questions about skills and occupations as well, the report shows. How will the Nordic countries’ skills supply be guaranteed and what might this look like in order to increase gender equality? What types of skills do the Nordic countries need, apart from more engineers?

The research overview that is the central part of this report is based on a systematic review of 199 articles published in scholarly journals published during the period 2000–2019.