Sweden's "Daddy Months" and Carol's Cousin in the Riksdag

  At the Maritime Museum in Göteborg last week, the 2^nd museum we visited there with a kids’ playroom, we chanced upon a group of men, each with a young child in tow. It struck us that this was “so Swedish” (but we didn’t react quickly enough to ask for a photo). Sweden, as most know, provides one of the most comprehensive childcare benefits in the world. They aim to support work-life balance, encourage gender equality, and ensure children's well-being.

A group of Swedish daddies similar to the ones we saw in the Maritime Museum. 

 

   Parents have access to 480 days of paid parental leave per child, at about 80% of their wage with weekends paid too. Ninety days are reserved for each parent, meaning that parents have paid access to only 390 days if, for example, the father does no childcare (“use it or lose it”). This is meant to encourage more equal sharing, specifically getting fathers involved. And it works! The introduction of these “daddy months” – 30 in 1995, rising to 60 in 2002 and 90 in 2016 – led to a gradual but significant increase in men’s usage of parental leave, so that men use about 30% today. It is one of the highest rates in the world (a bit lower than Iceland and Norway – what is it about these Nordic countries?). Another Swedish innovation, which just came into effect this year, is allowing parents to transfer up to 45 days of their paid leave to grandparents! A single parent can transfer up to 90 days.

Camilla Rinaldo Miller, Carol's cousin who is a member of the Riksdag, standing next to a picture of one of her heroes, Kersten Hesselgren, the first woman to be elected into the Upper House of the Swedish Parliament after suffrage was introduced in 1921.

Camilla, Carol and me in the Riksdag Hall. 

 

   We got more educated about the whole issue of paid parental leave when we spent 90 minutes with a cousin of Carol’s who is a member of the Riksdag (Parliament) from Jönköping County in the Småland region. We talked as she gave us a tour of the two 19^th century buildings in which it is housed. Though she is a member of a conservative party (Christian Democrats) from a particularly conservative part of the country, she indicated to us her strong support for Sweden’s social infrastructure. (And distaste for Donald Trump, though she still saw herself on the Republican end of the political spectrum in American terms.) In fact, after our meeting and tour, we sat in the visitors’ gallery of the legislative chamber as she and colleagues participated in the weekly question session for Ministers. Her focus was on loosening up the “reserved day” provisions, because in effect they discriminate against single mothers (without a father present, they only have access to 390 days; of course, a single father would face a similar loss).

Camilla addressing the Minister for Social Services during Question Time, held every Thursday afternoon, where Riksdag members have the opportunity to direct questions to specific Ministers. 

 

   Meeting Camilla also tuned us into another aspect of Sweden’s legislature and also something she is very proud of: women comprise 46% of the legislators, one of the highest in the world (U.S. is at 28%). The role of women in politics is also highlighted in the special Women’s Room in the Riksdag. Inaugurated in 1994, it is a permanent exhibit of the role of women in Sweden’s political and legislative history, including art by and about women.

Statue in front of the Riksdag depicting the first five pioneering women elected to the legislature, and being carried forth and into the future by two young present-day women.