Life PuzzleThe Role of the Swedish Family

A longing to be close to one’s child coupled with an opportunity to be there. Children, parents, work, home, finances and equality: the various parts of what in Sweden is known as the puzzle of life. This exhibition is about the role of fathers and how society can make it easier to reconcile equality, parenthood and work.

The Swedish government is working to ensure that all policy decisions take gender equality into account. The Equality Ombudsman (DO) is a government agency that works against discrimination and for equal rights. DO monitors compliance with the law regarding parental leave and ensures that parents on parental leave are not treated less favourably by their employers.

Sweden continues to pursue an active policy to increase the father's share of parental leave. This is done partly to achieve an even higher degree of gender equality, and partly because children have a right to both parents.

On the top of gender equalityPhoto: Pål Sommelius

480 days with your childPhoto: Linnéa Pettersson/Bildarkivet

Fathers for equalityPhoto: Martin Svalander/imagebank.sweden.se

Close at the birthPhoto: Pål Sommelius

Shorter working hoursPhoto: Pål Sommelius

Life puzzlePhoto: Pål Sommelius

Widely available childcarePhoto: Pål Sommelius

Parent-smart workplacesPhoto: Anna Rut Fridholm

Towards full equalityPhoto: Stephan Berglund/Bildarkivet