The Nordic Council of Ministers regularly publishes reports aimed at providing a basis for the development of gender equality policy in relation to various social challenges. In recent years, the concept of masculinity has begun to be referenced repeatedly in such publications. But what does it mean that men and masculinity are highlighted in these reports? How are the concepts of men and masculinity used and how are problems, causes and solutions constructed? This publication analyses twelve gender equality policy reports published by the Nordic Council of Ministers between 2019 and 2024. Based on current scientific discussions, perspectives are provided on previous initiatives and a basis for how research can guide Nordic gender equality policy going forward.

Masculinity in Nordic gender equality policy 2019–2024

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The financial crisis, pandemic, war and climate threats of recent years show that the global risk landscape is changing rapidly and that the threats to our societies are becoming increasingly interconnected and complex.  Experience from the COVID-19 pandemic shows that the resilience of welfare is crucial, both for good and equal health and for functioning societies in general. At the same time, today’s challenges in health and social care are considerable. When does a crisis begin and who decides? How can we strengthen our crisis preparedness and increase the resilience of Nordic welfare?  

In this publication, researchers in global public health, economic history, demography, sociology and social work contribute reflections from a gender perspective in four essays. Based on their research findings, they open up new perspectives, questions and possible solutions for future crises.

Welfare resilience during crises in the Nordic region

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ decision to establish official co-operation between the Nordic governments on gender equality issues. The forms of Nordic co-operation have evolved and changed over the last half-century, and since 2020 the remit has expanded to include LGBTI rights. Today, the region is united around a broad political platform aimed at improving gender equality and achieving equal rights and opportunities for all.

To make wise choices for the future, it is important to know the history that many of us are building on. That is why Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK), the co-operation body of the Nordic ministers for gender equality, has produced this anniversary publication. We have interviewed eight people with different backgrounds and knowledge and asked them to reflect on the years that have passed and to look ahead.

Over the last 50 years, the hard work of civil society and political activists has made the Nordic Region one of the most gender-equal regions in the world. But we cannot rest on our laurels, and our successes so far must be defended. Although gender equality has been prioritised in the Nordic Region, there are still clear differences in the conditions for women, men and LGBTI people in the Nordic Region. For example, the Nordic countries struggle with both vertically and horizontally gender-segregated labour markets, LGBTI people are subjected to abuse, threats and violence to a greater extent than others and there is still a significant pay gap between women and men.

This is why Nordic co-operation on gender equality and LGBTI issues continues. Next year, a new co-operation programme for the 2025-2030 period will come into force, covering issues such as the gender-segregated labour market, stereotypical norms related to gender, gender identity and sexuality, and gender equality challenges in relation to the green transition.

We hope that this anniversary publication will give those working in the field an opportunity to reflect on the past and feel proud of the progress that has been made so far, but also to inspire the will and vigour needed to tackle current and future challenges.

Fifty years of Nordic cooperation on gender equality

1974 – 2024

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Fifty years of Nordic cooperation on gender equality (PDF print version)

We are now launching a publication that provides an introduction to the state of knowledge in the field of older LGBTI people’s living conditions and how researchers and other experts in the field describe urgent problems and knowledge gaps and identify actions required for change.

The publication summarises and provides an introduction to the state of knowledge in the field and how researchers and other experts describe problems and gaps in knowledge and identify actions required for change. It summarises the key messages from a high-level expert meeting held in connection with the launch of the Nordic report: “He went back into the closet”: Older LGBTI people’s interactions with health and social care in the Nordic countries.

The report’s title: “He went back into the closet” reflects the experiences of some older LGBTI people when they move into care homes where their needs are not properly met.

Key messages in selection

• Trans care is negatively affected by the fact that trans people are still pathologised in all the Nordic countries.
• There is a lack of research on health professionals in relation to LGBTI issues. More research is needed.
• There is a need for more knowledge on the specific health problems and diseases of older LGBTI people
• Better working conditions for health professionals lead to better care for LGBTI people.
• Provide funding for research and educational materials on older LGBTI people.

Key messages from the high level meeting on older LGBTI people’s interactions with health and social care

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Key messages from the high level meeting on older LGBTI people’s interactions with health and social care (PDF för utskrift)

This research overview is based on a systematic overview of research and relevant literature from the Nordic countries between 2018 and 2022, with a focus on young men between the ages of 15 and 30 years.

The overall purpose of the overview is to highlight current knowledge about young men’s mental health problems by investigating what causes these problems, and their consequences.

The overview focuses in particular on knowledge about young men’s mental health in relation to current conditions and challenges in education and training and the workplace in the Nordic countries. 

Young men’s mental ill-health in the Nordics: A research overview encompassing education and training, the workplace and the pandemic

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Young men’s mental ill-health in the Nordics – A research overview encompassin education and training, the workplace and the pandemic (PDF print version)

When the Nordic Council of Ministers established the Nordic Gender Equality Fund in June 2013, the aim was to stimulate Nordic cooperation in the area of gender equality. Since then, the Fund has granted funding to NGOs, public authorities, researchers and networks within the context of 79 different projects.

In this publication, we present the experiences, insights and effects of these first ten years of the Fund. 

The publication in Nordic languages

Finnish:
Kymmenen vuotta yhteistyötä pohjoismaisen tasa-arvorahaston kautta (accessible online version)
PDF in Finnish for print

Icelandic:
Tíu ára samstarf gegnum Norrænan jafnréttissjóð (accessible online version)
PDF in Icelandic for print

10! Ten years of cooperation through the Nordic Gender Equality Fund

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10! Ten years of cooperation through the Nordic Gender Equality Fund (PDF print version)

Within the Nordic Council of Ministers’ program for sustainable lifestyles in the Nordics, NIKK has produced a research overview to make visible and challenge gender stereotypes in relation to consumption and lifestyle, and contribute to a better understanding of how differences arise, and how they are reinforced and reproduced.

Sustainable production and consumption, goal 12 in Agenda 2030, has been identified as one of the areas where the Nordic countries face the greatest challenges in the work for sustainable development. The overall international research situation regarding the climate impact of individuals’ consumption patterns shows, among other things, that socio-demographic factors such as gender, income and ethnicity have a great explanatory value. Research also shows that inequality itself, especially in high-income countries, leads to increased emissions from consumption.

Climate, Gender and Consumption: a research overview of gender perspectives on sustainable lifestyles

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Climate, Gender and Consumption: a research overview of gender perspectives on sustainable lifestyles (PDF print version)

Key takeaways from Climate, Gender and Consumption (PDF print version)

In the Nordic countries, both education and the labour market are strongly gendersegregated. This segregation is both vertical and horizontal, meaning that women are found in different courses and study programmes and sectors of the labour market than men, and also find themselves in different positions in the hierarchies of education systems and working life. This gender segregation has consequences for study and working conditions, pay, and the distribution of power and resources.

Combating gender bias is one of the strategic areas of intervention in official Nordic cooperation in the area of gender equality. The Danish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2020 therefore initiated a project that shed light on gendered educational choices in the Nordic countries. The Nordic Council of Ministers cooperation body Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK), located at the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research, was commissioned to conduct a study focusing on gender segregation in VET in the Nordic countries.

The study provides an introduction to what we know about VET and gender as an area of knowledge, describes how VET in the Nordic countries is organised, and gives examples of how these countries have worked to break patterns of gender segregation and to retain pupils who belong to the under-represented sex. The study also includes a concluding analysis section which discusses the results of the survey conducted against the background of current knowledge in the field.

Vocational education and training in the Nordic countries – Knowledge and interventions to combat gender segregation

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Vocational education and training in the Nordic countries – Knowledge and interventions to combat gender segregation (PDF print version)

Key points from the report Vocational education and training in the Nordic countries (print version)

How are the Nordic countries handling the effects of COVID-19 on gender equality? The COVID-19 pandemic is presenting new challenges for gender equality, which has loomed large in Nordic gender equality co-operation since the outbreak of the pandemic. The risk of increased domestic violence when the community partially shuts down to reduce the spread of infection. Working life and the economy, unpaid care work and mental health issues are also areas that have been largely affected by the pandemic.

This publication summarises the knowledge produced thus far in the Nordic countries and brings together the gender equality initiatives and measures that the Nordic countries have initiated in relation to the pandemic. The publication aims to contribute to the sharing of knowledge and experience between the Nordic countries arising from the effects of the pandemic on gender equality. By learning from each other, the Nordic countries can decrease the risk for that the Corona crisis become a gender equality crisis.

The publication has been produced by Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK) and is based on data from the Nordic countries as well as interviews with researchers and experts.

This summary presents results from co-operation projects financed by the Fund that have contributed to gender equality in the workplace. The purpose of this summary is to share knowledge and experience from these projects in order to increase their impact so that they will benefit more people, and to inspire others to participate in Nordic co-operation projects.

The summary has been prepared by Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK), which is a co-operation body under the Nordic Council of Ministers. NIKK has the task of managing the Nordic Gender Equality Fund.