Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries

This course focuses on gender equality, as this is perceived and pursued in the Nordic countries. The course provides an overview of the significance of gender in this context, with a special focus on gender equality issues in the Nordic countries.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- reflect upon central questions of gender policy and theory
- recognise different conceptions of gender equality
- discuss historical processes of gender equality measures in the Nordic region
- critically discuss arrangements concerning reconciliation og work and family
- discuss the status of gender equality in fields such as everyday life, education, working life, politics and ethnic relations
- see, analyse and problematise gender in texts, practices and policies.

General knowledge of feminist theory is recommended. 20 ECTS from the bachelorprogramme Gender, Feminism and Equality (for instance KFL1010 and KFL1020), or a minimum of 60 ECTS (any subjects).

Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.

International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

The course consists of 8 weeks: 8 times two-hour lectures and 7 times two-hour seminars. The teaching includes lectures and student activities. The course reading requirement is appr. 800 pages. Participation is mandatory (11 out of 15 classes).

Compulsory activity:

• A mandatory oral presentation, presented as part of a group-assignment
• Mandatory attendance at least 6 out of 10 lectures, and 4 out of 6 seminars.

The final exam will consist of a mandatory portfolio of 3 pieces:

1. Minutes/report of one of the field trips (Oslo city centre only) that will form part of the course, including a discussion of topics from the broader 2060 curriculum that could be related to the visit. Discuss also how the place visited illustrates or contributes to practices of gender equality in Norway. 1000 words +/- 10% (references in addition).
2. An written version of the individual contribution to the mandatory group oral presentation. 600 words +/- 10% (references in addition).
3. A mandatory written exercise/short essay of 2000 words, +/- 10% (references and front page in addition).

Total app 3600 words, +/- 10% (references and front page in addition).

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Language of examination:
English

You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.

Evaluation

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, periodic evaluation of this course.

Periodic evaluation 06 07
Periodisk evaluering 10-12

• 10 credits overlap with KFL4060 - Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries.
• 10 credits overlap with ISSHF2060 - Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries.
• 10 credits overlap with ISSHF4060 - Gender Equality in the Nordic Countries.

Books that have to be purchased:

Titles marked with * are from books that have to be purchased. You can either buy it in the bookshop Akademika at Blindern, or on web: amazon.com and AbeBooks.com. The others are to be in the compendium.

To open the linked articles, you have to be connected to the server at University of Oslo.

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

* Korsvik, Trine and Ane Stø (eds.): The Nordic Approach, 2011. Kolofon forlag. ISBN: 978-82-300-0804-1.

Compendium

The articles in the syllabus you will find in a compendium that you can buy in the bookshop in the basement of Akademika/Kopiutsalget, Blindern.

To access the titles with links, you must be logged in via the University of Oslo server.

Ahlberg, Jenny, Christine Roman and Simon Duncan: "Actualizing the "Democratic Family"? Swedish Policy Rhetoric versus Family Practices" in Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, 2008. Advance Access published. pp 79-100. link.

Andersson, Måns: "Gendering animals. Representation, identification and demise of simplicity" in NIKK magasin No 3, 2006. pp 12-15 (4p). link.

*Annfelt, Trine : "The `new father¿: gender equality as discursive resource for family politics" in in Melby, Kari, Anna-Birte Ravn and Christina Carlsson Wetterberg (eds.): Gender equality and welfare politics in Scandinavia. The limits of political ambition?, 2008. Bristol Polity Press. pp 119-134 (9 p).

Bacchi, Carol: "Poststructuralism, Discourse and Problematization: Implications for gender mainstreaming" in Kvinder, køn & forskning (4): 2010. pp 62-72.

Borchorst, Anette: "What is institutionalised gender equality?" in Bergquist, Christina et al. (eds.): Equal Democracies? Gender and Politics in the Nordic Countries,

If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

A student may sit this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.