The Nordic countries are facing numerous challenges, some of which are specific to the more peripheral areas. Examples include changed living conditions in the wake of global changes, economic regression, loss of employment opportunities, in particular in traditionally male-dominated occupations, and depopulation, as young people, and especially women, are moving away to more urbanised areas to study or find a job.

Many of the challenges affect men and women differently, and men and women also have different strategies to handle them. This is found in a mapping by EDGE, Center for Equality, Diversity and Gender, at Aalborg University.