The Local Sweden

'Completely bizarre': Stockholm hits back at US embassy's anti-DEI contract

Thu, 08 May 2025 16:35:44 +0200

The US Embassy has sent a letter to Stockholm council's city planning office demanding it signs a contract confirming that it does not work to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), Swedish media report.

Ericsson denies Trump demands pushed it to remove diversity references

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:13:27 +0200

Swedish telecom giant Ericsson has removed all references to 'diversity and inclusion' from its annual report after US President Donald Trump moved to abolish diversity, equity and inclusion programmes (DEI) in the public and private sectors.

'More than a hundred years' until Sweden has gender-equal senior management teams

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:22:34 +0200

If gender equality in company leadership progresses at the current rate, it will take until 2135 for men and women to be equally represented on top-level management teams, new figures reveal.

'Very little debate' on consequences of Sweden's crime and migration clampdown

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:56:00 +0200

Sweden’s political leaders are putting the population’s well-being at risk by moving the country in a more authoritarian direction, according to a recent report.

How Sweden's gender-equal divorce law can leave women worse off

Thu, 12 May 2022 20:18:18 +0200

Sweden is often lauded as being gender-equal, reflected in Swedish divorce law. But that doesn't mean that Sweden is the best place for women to get divorced, as Sarah Jefford discovered following her split three years ago.

Dating app helps Swedes with disabilities find love

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 13:41:25 +0100

For 24-year-old Sira Rehn, a dating app for people with mild intellectual disabilities and autism has opened up the world of online dating and a chance to find love in a safe space.

Swedish retirees demand fairer pensions for women

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:14:11 +0200

"Old ladies need more money!" a group of grey-haired women chants in front of Sweden's parliament, as their recurring protest against the country's pension system enters its 10th year.

'Forgotten girls of Sweden': Foreign women fight for rights after domestic abuse

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 12:06:43 +0100

Foreign-born women who try to leave abusive relationships in Sweden face a multitude of challenges, including the lack of a social network, threat of losing their residence permit and battle to keep their children safe. Journalist Keith Moore investigates.

Stockholm Pride is a little different this year: here's what you need to know

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 12:33:33 +0200

This week marks the beginning of Pride festivities in the Swedish capital. The tickets sold out immediately, for the partly in-person, partly digital events.

Violence against women: A look at the Swedish government's 40-point plan

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 14:05:37 +0200

Sweden's government has announced a nationwide plan to fight male violence against women after several recent killings of women by their current or former partners. The proposals include tougher sentences but also preventative work.

Sweden: the world's most equal country?

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 10:59:59 +0100

Sweden is universally thought of as an equality paradise. Economic historian Erik Bengtsson now disproves the belief that this Swedish egalitarianism is rooted in a centuries-old tradition: "Sweden used to excel in inequality."

WATCH: Is Sweden's flexible parental leave helping gender equality?

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 13:14:32 +0100

Sweden is famous for its generous and flexible parental leave but some critics say it's enforcing traditional gender roles as fathers aren't making full use of the time they could take off with their newborns.

'Only half the story': The flipside of Sweden's egalitarian utopia

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 09:59:59 +0200

When freelance writer Anne Grietje Franssen moved to Sweden and Gothenburg, she had to adapt her utopian image of the country.

Swedish football association reported to equality watchdog for suspected wage discrimination

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 10:19:20 +0200

The Swedish Football Association was on Tuesday reported to the country's equality ombudsman, with the people behind the report saying they suspected female players were victims of "wage discrimination".

Opening a window on the Queer world

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:48:00 +0200

A new exhibition of 'queer' art provides a perfect prelude to this year's Europride festival, writes David Bartal.

Women and those with foreign-sounding names earn less in Sweden: report

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 19:19:14 +0200

Female job applicants both ask for and receive lower salaries than their male peers in Sweden, according to a new report which also showed candidates with foreign-sounding names were typically offered lower pay.

UK would gain £180 billion GDP boost by matching Sweden's female employment rate: study

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 12:35:08 +0200

A new index charting female economic empowerment cites Sweden as the example for other OECD countries to follow, predicting that there would be a $6 trillion boost to OECD GDP if female employment rates were boosted to match the Nordic country.

Swedes hold strongest views on gender equality in EU: study

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 17:29:16 +0100

Swedes hold the strongest views on gender equality of any EU country, according to a survey published this month.

Report: 22 years until Swedish management teams are gender equal

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:15:40 +0200

It's going to take 22 years before management teams in Swedish companies are gender equal, a new report from the non-profit, politically independent AllBright foundation showed on Monday, calling the results "worrying".

Why Sweden's ice hockey referees will wear the rainbow flag this season

Mon, 21 Aug 2017 13:55:11 +0200

Sweden's ice hockey referees will fly the rainbow colours of the pride flag this season in an initiative designed to make the sport more inclusive and help cut out discriminatory behaviour.