It is true that we have come a long way. Finland is often among the leading countries in terms of gender equality, and it has attracted worldwide attention thanks to the leading government of all women.
As Minister for Gender Equality, I sometimes ask questions about the need for further efforts, such as why gender equality is still being made such a big deal. Aren’t we already equal enough?
For me, the answer is pretty clear. To date, no country can say that gender equality has been fully achieved, and Finland is no exception. This is reflected, for example, in the persistent gender pay gap, the prevalence of violence against women and the unequal distribution of caring and domestic work responsibilities. The statistics are very clear on this: we still have work to do.
It is important to remember that there is a person behind every statistic. For them, inequality has very real effects on everyday life. The fact that Finland is doing very well on a general level or better than the rest of the world does little to solve the inequality they face. We will not be gender equal until equality is true for everyone.
That is why Sanna Marin’s government has set a clear goal: to make Finland a leading country in terms of gender equality. This goal is reflected in the government’s program and the government’s action plan on gender equality, both of which include a record number of gender equality measures. We also know that the ongoing pandemic is a new challenge to achieving gender equality. Therefore, this is not the time to lower the targets – rather to raise them – and why the government is committed to continuing to work for gender equality in all circumstances.
In addition to the work needed nationally, we also need new efforts to promote gender equality at the global level. Over the last decade, we have seen a worrying setback for gender equality and women’s rights, both in Europe and globally. The fundamental principles of women’s rights are increasingly being called into question, such as sexual and reproductive rights, and gender equality has been formulated as a threat to family values or the role of men in society. This is deeply about development – which jeopardizes the achievements we have made and which threatens to undermine the key principles of the international community, namely that we are all born equal, with the same fundamental rights.
Gender equality is as big a thing as ever. Recent developments are a grim reminder that none of the achievements are permanent or taken for granted unless they are constantly defended. The goal of making Finland a leading country in terms of gender equality is therefore necessary at both the national and international levels. We must continue our efforts every day of the year.
Thomas Blomqvist
Thomas Blomqvist is a Finnish politician born in Ekenäs, now Raseborg. Prior to moving to national politics, he worked as a farmer and entrepreneur. Blomqvist was elected to the Ekenäs Municipal Council in 1993. He is the Minister for Nordic Cooperation.
This article is written for MP Talk, which is a regular column in the Helsinki Times, where members of the Finnish Parliament share their thoughts and opinions. All opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Helsinki Times.
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Source: The Nordic Page