What is it like to be a woman in Norway?

I was asked this question by a Brazilian friend who also lives in Norway. We’ll have a livestream together on March 8th, on Instagram. You can check it out by clicking here. Well, that question made me want to go a little deeper in history and nowadays. Norway is known for its advances in gender equality. Being a woman in Norway means to feel safe and respected. Our opinions are taken in account. We’ve had female prime minister and almost all professions have female in leader position. Still, there are much fewer women in position of command than men. We’re not there yet. However, there’s a lot to celebrate. Specially if you come from countries where chauvinism and “honor” murder are frequent. You value more Norway’s way to treat women.

History

Like most western countries, Norway also has improved in gender equality. The funny thing is that not all acts that provided more power to women were made in that intention. It was in the year of 1839 (Crafts Act) and 1842 (Trade Act) that unmarried women above the age of 40 got the right to work and provide for themselves. A selfless gender equality act? Nope. The intent was to ease fathers’s and the state’s burden to financially support these women.  

A symbol of women’s struggle before oil was found in Norway. Fisherman’s Wife. The sculpture we see at Hafrsfjord, Stavanger is a tribute to Ane Malene Jonsdatter Nilsen (1838-1936). She used to take fish from Tananger to Hafrsfjord all the way to Madla market to sell them. Winter or Summer, she walked every day, with sore feet, baring her shoes in her hands. That’s an example of how hard life was for many people in the past, in Norway.

Women got the right to vote in 1913. Norwegian women have fought hard for their rights, for equality. In the 60’s women used to stay at home with the kids while men went to work. This situation began to change bu the time oil was found. Another dynamic was implemented in the big cities (example: kindergarten access to small children).

Nowadays.

Kids.

At school, treatment is pretty equal. You don’t say to a boy not to hit a girl because she is a girl. You don’t hit because hitting is wrong. Some girls actually fight back. Still, some teenage girls experience more pressure to get good grades than boys. Boys are more allowed to be messy and make mistakes. On the other hand, girls go further in studies like masters and doctor grade. Boys are more likely to drop out of high school.

At work

Maternity leave is up to one year with 80% of the salary, or up to 8 months with 100% of the salary. Moms and dads can share it. Specially in the last months, dads stay at home with the baby so that mom can go back to work. That helps women to keep their jobs.

In Norway, the job interviewer can not ask a candidate if she is pregnant or if she plans on becoming pregnant. Many women feel the pressure not to tell when they are pregnant at the early phase.

Norwegian women have equal voice at meetings and occupy leader positions, though not as many as men. Norway facilitates gender equality. You see women in all professions, from bus driver to prime minister. They also motivate men to do so called “girly” professions like kindergarten teacher.

On the streets

I feel safe as a woman, to walk on the streets any time, anywhere. Sure no one feels safe passing by a group of drunk young men. But Norwegians don’t say improper things to women on the streets. They don’t make a move on girls like that. Norwegian women are self aware of their body and desire. They make it clear when they are interested in a man. There isn’t such a thing as a shy girl who doesn’t show any signs that she is interested. If she is interested, you’ll know.

Also, as women and men are treated equally, don’t expect men to hold the door open for you. Some men say that it was the women who seemed offended by such chivalry. “I am capable of opening the door myself”. Go figure. Maybe they had to go all the way to the other side to guarantee respect and fair treatment. Maybe now they could accept chivalry? I know I do.

Beauty and youth.

Norway is much a better place to get old as a woman. Not much botox or other plastic surgery procedures. Most women over 60 I know have grey hair and wrinkles. However, some young girls (20’s) wear eyelash extension and some have got their lips filled. Also many do this tanning. I hope this trend goes away. And I hope young women acknowledge what the old generation has done for them.

Room for improvement

Women’s health is not top priority when it comes to research and prevention campaigns. Exams to prevent breast cancer like mammography are only available from the age of 50. Before that you have to fight and prove that you need it (like if you have history in your family or if you have implants).

There’s not much investments in thorough investigation when it comes to rape. Penalty for the rapist can vary from 3 to 21 years in prison.

Equal job opportunities? We’re not there yet. There’s been a controversial employment of Jens Stoltenberg as Norway’s Central Bank CEO. He is certainly qualified BUT he is connected with the prime minister of Norway and they belong to the same political party. Jens is former prime minister of Norway and current NATO chairman. The other candidate to the position of head of Central Bank, central bank’s vice president, Ida Wolden Bache, asked to apply by the finance ministry with a background in economics and finance. Bottom line is: Both are highly qualified. There’s never been a woman as head of Central Bank. Jens has connections with the government, which can threaten the impartiality. So, why not her? At the end, he was chosen.

That’s why you seen manifests like former prime minister Erna Solberg’s. She has changed her name to Arne-Erna Solberg on LinkedIn. Wanna now why? She’s part of the Arne campaign to show solidarity and that most top leaders in Norway are men. Check her LinkedIn profile here. Remember the tv series Lykkeland? Check post here. They reveal Stavanger in the 60’s to 80’s when oil was found in Norway and how it transformed the country. Well, in the 80’s Anne, a brilliant economist has trouble finding a job in Stavanger. She’s highly qualified but can’t get a job interview. Her husband then suggests that she makes a “spelling mistake” and signs her CV as ARNE instead of ANNE. Arne is a typical male name in Norway. Guess what? She got a job interview. And the job! Many Norwegian women are now changing their names on LinkedIn to protest so that women and men have the same access to job interviews. Equal opportunities for equally qualified workers.

Norwegian language. When they refer to humans in general, they say man. First person to get to finish line: Første man. Why not: første person?

Bottom line is: I am happy with Norway’s efforts to make women feel safe and valued. A place where we express our opinions freely. A place where reporters interview men and women and both are asked questions. Specialists from both genders get interviewed. A country where you don’t see tv shows for the family when the presenter talks while dozens of half naked women are dancing on the background. A country that doesn’t sexualize youngsters by promoting ugly dances. Other countries have Norway to look up to.

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Thanks for reading.