Gender Equality and the Nordic Welfare State, 7.5 credits

Aims and objectives

General aims for first cycle education

First-cycle courses and study programmes shall develop:

• the ability of students to make independent and critical assessments
• the ability of students to identify, formulate and solve problems autonomously, and
• the preparedness of students to deal with changes in working life.

In addition to knowledge and skills in their field of study, students shall develop the ability to:

• gather and interpret information at a scholarly level
• stay abreast of the development of knowledge, and
• communicate their knowledge to others, including those who lack specialist knowledge in the field.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 8)

Course objectives

Knowledge and Understanding
After completed studies the student shall have knowledge of

• variations between different welfare state regimes in general and their gendered aspects in particular, and
• the critique of mainstream welfare state theory, presented in feminist research.

Competence and Skills
After completed studies, the student shall be able to

• evaluate the relationships between women's movements, political reforms and gender equality, and
• make independent comparisons between countries regarding gender equality.

Judgement and Approach
After completed studies, the student shall be able to

• critically assess gender equality problems in the Nordic welfare states
• present a general overview of political developments of the Nordic welfare states as well as conditions of and challenges to gender equality.

Main content of the course

Themes that will be explored and discussed are:

• the significance of politics for women and gender equality,
• the development of the Nordic Welfare States,
• the political mobilization of women,
• family policy development and gender equality,
• comparisons of different welfare state regimes in relation to gender equality,
• national gender equality policy institutions,
• contemporary challenges to gender equality, and
• violence against women as a policy issue.

Teaching methods

The course can be made up of lectures, seminars, field studies, exercises, web-based discussions and/or workshops.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Examination methods

Examination, 7.5 credits (Code: A001)
Papers.

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other forms of examinations.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Comments on examination methods

Examination deadline
If the deadline for the examination is exceeded, the examiner will decide how the examination should be conducted and, when applicable, set the timeframe for it.

Supplementary assignments for a passing grade
The examiner may decide that a student who has not received a passing grade for the course may submit supplementary assignments instead of taking a re-examination. Supplementary assignments should be submitted to the lecturer within two weeks after the student is notified of the failing grade.

Grades

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

According to regulations on grading systems for first- and second-cycle education (vice-chancellor's decision 2019-01-15, ORU 2019/00107), one of the following grades is to be used: fail, pass, or pass with distinction. The vice-chancellor or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special reasons.

Grades used on course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Examination
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Comments on grades

On 13 November 2018, the Vice Chancellor admitted an exception from the U-G-VG grading scale in favour of the A-F grading scale. From the autumn semester 2019, the A-F grading scale may be applied on international courses and study programmes (ORU2018/06084).

Specific entry requirements

General entry requirements.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).

Transfer of credits for previous studies

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

Other provisions

The course is given in English.

Transitional provisions

Should the course undergo changes to such an extent that it is not possible to examine the student in accordance with this course syllabus, opportunities for special examination sessions will be provided in accordance with the university's local guidelines. If this occurs, the university will inform the students involved.

Reading list and other teaching materials

Required Reading

Borchorst, Anette & Siim, Birte (2008)
Woman-friendly policies and state feminism: Theorizing Scandinavian gender equality in Feminist Theory 2008:9 http://fty.sagepub.com/content/9/2/207.full.pdf

Freidenvall, Lenita (2013)
Step by Step - Women's Inroads into Parliamentary Politics. Pp. 97-23 in Drude Dahlerup and Monique Leyenaar (eds.) Breaking Male Dominance in Old Democracies
Oxford: Oxford University Press

Koslowski, Alison, Blum, Sonja & Moss, Peter (eds) (2016 or later version if available)
12th international review on leave policies and related research 2016. Report from the International network on leave policies and research. (Selected reading: approx. 50 pages.)
http://www.leavenetwork.org/fileadmin/Leavenetwork/Annual_reviews/2016_Full_draft_20_July.pdf

Lee, Soomi, Duvander, Ann-Zofie & Zarit. H, Steven (2016)
How can family policies reconcile fertility and women's employment? Comparisons between South Korea and Sweden. Asian Journal of Women's Studies, 22(3), 269-288. doi:10.1080/12259276.2016.1202027

Magnusson, Eva, Rönnblom, Malin & Silius, Harriet (eds) (2008)
Critical Studies of Gender Equalities. Nordic dilocations, dilemmas and contradictions
Stockholm and Göteborg: Makadam, (selection of articles)

Melby, Kari, Ravn, Anna-Birte & Carlsson Wetterberg, Christina (eds.) (2008)
Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia. The limits of political ambition?
Bristol: Policy Press

Special Eurobarometer 465, Summary, Gender Equality 2017
https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/.../80678

Sümer, Sevil (2014)
The Nordic approach to work and care: Challenges on the way to inclusive citizenship. Tidsskrift for Kjønnsforskning, (1), 59-69
https://www.idunn.no/tfk/2014/01/the_nordic_approach_to_work_and_care_challenges_on_the_way

Additional Reading

Nordic Council of Ministers: Nordic Gender Equality in Figures
http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/ANP2015-733

Additions and Comments
About 50 pages will be selected in collaboration with the teacher/Additional 1-2 articles.