Equality, Difference and State Welfare: Labour Market and Family Policies in Sweden

Abstract

Many feminists regard Sweden as a progressive paradise, in terms of both its levels of social provision and its degree of gender equality. Although it is commonly appreciated that virtually all Swedish women are in the labour market and that public sector day care provisions are better than in most Western countries, the way in which this has been achieved is less well known. For example, many English-speaking feminists are surprised to learn that Sweden does not rely on equal opportunity legislation to promote equal pay or to counter sex discrimination.