“Lots of talk and little action - every day should be gender equality day”
2025-03-07
Tomorrow marks the 113th anniversary of International Women's Day. However, the foundations of today's gender equality work were laid long before, with important efforts by Fredrika Bremer in Sweden as early as the 1850s.
The last 10 years have seen strong movements in gender equality work. #MeToo exploded in the fall of 2017 and made a strong impression on the public debate, both in Sweden and globally. In 2014, the Swedish feminist foreign policy was presented and in 2021 Sweden got its first female prime minister.
Since then, interest has waned. In 2022, 43% of young people considered greater gender equality to be the most important issue. In 2024, the figure was 31%, according to the Youth Barometer report.
There is still much to be done in gender equality work, both in Sweden and internationally. Globally, more than 650 million women have married as children and more than 100 million girls are not in school.
In Sweden, women still earn less than men for doing the same work, and according to a report from the National Mediation Office, the pay gap is widening. This is also clearly reflected in future pensions. According to the Second AP Fund's Women's Index 2024, the proportion of female CEOs was only 12%, while the proportion of women on the boards of listed companies has leveled off.
In addition, the “soft girl” trend is growing in Sweden. Each individual owns their life choices, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that these ideals are based on old gender norms. This risks reducing young girls' economic independence and power to shape their own lives - with consequences for society as a whole.
A more gender-equal labor market means higher growth, innovation and competitiveness, which is crucial in a global economy. In addition, companies with more women in management tend to be more profitable and innovative.
It is clear that it is time to put gender equality back at the top of the agenda. Tomorrow, as we mark International Women's Day and the work that has been done for more than 100 years, there is no getting away from the fact that gender equality needs to be a living and breathing reality - every day.