Gender equality is one of the cornerstones of Swedish society.
It also has an extensive system that makes it easier to take childcare leave, and is ranked within the top four in the world in the “Gender Gap Index Ranking” published by the World Economic Forum.
We interviewed Mr. Kenshi Suzuki, who lived in Sweden for about 10 years, got married, raised children, and is now a professor at Meiji University’s School of Global Japanese Studies, for tips on how to promote men’s participation in housework and childcare in Japan.
What are the differences between Swedish and Japanese attitudes toward housework and childcare?

Sweden’s generous maternity leave system and stance on maternity leave

　Sweden is a very cold country due to its geographical location straddling the Arctic Circle. Therefore, individuals must act responsibly to get through the winter.
Such geopolitics are also said to have influenced a culture that emphasizes rights and responsibilities in the individual mindset in the first place.

　Until around the 1960s, the Swedish culture was also one in which men worked and women did the housework.
However, the labor shortage and the movement toward gender equality led to the development of legal systems and mechanisms that led to gender equality in the 1980s and 1990s, and attitudes changed to follow the systems.
Today, most couples work together.

　One reason for the advancement of men’s housework and childcare in Sweden is a particularly generous childcare leave system.
The parents are granted a combined total of 480 days of leave, with 80% of salary paid for up to 390 days and fixed benefits compensated for the remainder of the leave period.
Also, as in Japan, the boundary between work and private life is blurred in a positive sense, rather than being completely away from work during the maternity leave period.
Even while on maternity leave, I try to keep in mind that we communicate frequently for business communication to keep the company running smoothly.
By not clearly delineating the line, the psychological hurdle for taking childcare leave is lower than in Japan, as it reduces anxiety about being away from the workplace for an extended period of time.
Maternity leave is commonplace for both genders, and taking maternity leave does not affect salary increases.

Differences in Attitudes toward Housework and Childcare between Japan and Sweden

　Looking at the difference in the approach to determining the division of housework and childcare between men and women in Japan and Sweden, we find that in Japan, “the optimal solution is found from the efficiency within the family,” while in Sweden, “the idea of seeking the optimal solution within the family from the efficiency of the entire society” is more prevalent.

　If we seek “the optimal solution based on efficiency in the home,” we tend to end up with the idea that it is more efficient for a woman who is good at housework to do housework and childcare on her own than for a man who is not good at housework to do it half-heartedly.
I feel that in many cases, not only men but also women endorse this situation.

　On the other hand, in Sweden, the division of household chores and childcare is determined from the perspective of whether it is more efficient for men or women to put more weight on work, so women rarely take on more housework and childcare simply because they are women.

　In addition, both men and women take the lead in housework and childcare, and the ratio of housework and childcare responsibilities is reviewed as needed according to the busyness of each other’s work.

　Against this background, it is taken for granted in Sweden that people who can demonstrate their abilities regardless of gender will be placed in positions where they can play an active role.

　For example, at a furniture brand originating in Sweden, the company thought, “Women are more interested in furniture, and if we are targeting this segment, shouldn’t we have more women in management positions as well? If we target this segment, shouldn’t we have more women in management positions?

Work, housework, and childcare together to share concerns.

　Many Swedish men leave their families and become independent when they go to college after high school.
Scholarships are also actively used, and the culture is such that parents are taking their hands off their children.

　In addition, many students share rooms and are accustomed to living with others from a young age.
With this background, the mindset seems to be that housework is something that should be done regardless of gender.

　Of course, some Swedes are not good at housework, but that is not because they are men or women, but only because of their personal strengths and weaknesses.
Rather, “Men who cannot do housework are not liked by women.” and so it seems that men are easily motivated to improve their housework skills (laugh).
Since partners distrust the very idea that “I can’t do housework, so I’ll concentrate on my work and you should be a full-time housewife,” a culture of extremely natural housework and childcare has been formed.

　Also, in Sweden, when a child is born, both men and women take maternity leave to care for the child and eventually return to work, so they can discuss each other’s work problems as fellow workers after having children.
Similarly, we can share our concerns about housework and childcare from the same perspective.

Changes in housework and childcare responsibilities of the younger generation

　I think it is difficult for change to occur without political and corporate reforms, but still, a change in the mindset of each individual can lead to a change in society.

　I am a university teacher in Japan, and I have the impression that more and more of today’s university students want to balance work with housework and childcare.
Many people are also aware of the crisis regarding the traditional problem of the unbalanced division of housework and childcare among women, and feel that we are now in a transitional period of changing times.

　It is also necessary to reflect on each person’s unconscious bias (*unconscious assumption that one’s gender determines one’s social roles).
For example, I am uncomfortable with the situation where male TV personalities are praised for their housework and childcare.
We need to be able to have values that can be taken for granted.

　Although Sweden is now recognized as a country that represents gender equality, it originally had the same stereotypes about gender as Japan.
However, the consciousness of the generation has changed drastically. In Japan, children, who have seen married couples doing household chores, raising children, and working together, are now playing a central role in society.
I hope that the mindset of each and every one of us will change.