Family and gender policies in Norway
Abstract
This paper discusses some of the central Norwegian gender and family policies adopted in the 1970s to the 2000s, but does not include the total range of public policies introduced in the field in the period. Our focus is on work/family policies and their articulation with gender equality considerations, especially in policies aimed at families with children under school age. this paper turns to a brief historical outline of some of the changes in Norwegian society important in setting the stage and framing the gender and family policies of the modern Norwegian Welfare State from the 1970s onwards. Next, we outline two waves of national gender and family policy reform, one starting in the 1970s, the other in the 1990s and continuing into the early 2000s. Special attention is paid to (i) turning points or ‘path breaks’ in legislation of family and gender policies, and (ii) the relationship of family change and policy reform. Thereafter the basic features of the gender and family policy field as per 2010 are briefly presented and discussed. In concluding, we point to some of the challenges facing the Nordic welfare model.
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