Nordic Solutions to Global Challenges · How to Improve Gender Equality #UNGA 2017
Equality is our most valuable investment! And improving gender equality starts at home.
During the week of UNGA 2017, I was invited back to the United Nations Headquarters and with this access, I want to share the things I learned. Starting with, an initiative put together by the five Nordic prime ministers for gender equality.
Six influential leaders sat on a panel to discuss the roles of gender equality and how the world can benefit from this. Roles of cultural expectations for both men and women have created taboos in our societies, like parental work-leave. Even when the mother earns more, gender norms can force the woman to stay at home instead of the father. This shouldn’t be acceptable. So, Norway has created a systematic solution and it really starts at home.
Currently, Nordic men take off more time from work to be with their children than anywhere else in the world! It’s proven that this cultural change of gender equality benefits everyone starting with you, your spouse, your children, the community, and ultimately the globe. The world can learn from the Nordic models of parental leave and affordable childcare!
“When women have children, they are ‘rewarded’ with the motherhood penalty” – ED @phumzileunwomen #nordicsolutions #UNGA pic.twitter.com/d5necvSw9p
— UN Women (@UN_Women) September 21, 2017
Minister for Foreign Affairs Børge Brende of Norway opened the discussion by stressing how affordable childcare and parental leave make it possible for both parents to have a career…
Equality is our most valuable investment!
🇳🇴FM @borgebrende at #UNGA event on how parental leave increase gender equality and create economical growth!❤️👪📈💰#NordicSolutions #UNWomen pic.twitter.com/rRR1cIZo5N
— NorwayUN🇳🇴 (@NorwayUN) September 21, 2017
It’s taken the world a long time to realize the importance of co-parenting. That the role of both mother and father are equally important and most beneficial when it’s equal at home and for the economy.
Nordic men take off more time from work to be w/ their children than anywhere else worldwide https://t.co/PP9BVGVAmF #nordicsolutions #UNGA pic.twitter.com/aqTPjlpJhH
— UN Women (@UN_Women) September 21, 2017
→ Isa Sophia Notermans, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Spotify, says it’s about giving both sides the ability to raise their children. “Parental leave allows a shared experience to break down the biases in the culture.”
Spotify gives 6 months of parental leave to promote gender equality and to change stigmas of parental leave globally.
→ Parental leave is not only for rich countries! The social contract has to always be ambitious, stresses Norwegian politician Dagfinn Høybråten.
→ Even when the mother earns more, gender norms can force the woman to stay at home instead of the father, shares Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo.
→ She goes on to explain that parental leave is “an important tool to bring basic competence to children and integrate them.
→ “It takes 6%of GDP to implement inclusive care system. An important investment in people and our economy.” says General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, Sharan Burrow, who represents the world’s working people.
We have to socialize this Nordic Gender Effect to bring out the needed change!
