Parental Leave, Care Policies & Gender Equalities in the Nordic Countries

Nordic welfare systems are known for ensuring social security for all, with special emphasis on families with children. Hence, many countries have shown interest in the development of Nordic care policies. Although the Nordic countries have much in common, individual nations have chosen different ways to support parents.

Preliminary results from a research project on parental leave and care policies will be presented at the conference. The research project looks at how parental leave is used in the Nordic countries and how it affects the relationship between parents and children and the status of men and women in the labour market. The project is headed by Dr. Ingólfur V. Gíslason and Dr. Guðný Björk Eydal, from the University of Iceland.

Other members of the research team are:
• Dr. Tine Rostgaard - The Danish National Institute of Social Research
• Dr. Johanna Lammi-Taskula, - The National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland
• Dr. Berit Brandth - Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
• Dr. Ann-Zofie Duvander - Swedish National Social Insurance Agency

Keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Janet Gornick, professor of political science and sociology at the Graduate Center of City University of New York and Director of the Luxembourg Income Study. Dr. Janet Gornick is a co-author of Gender Equality: Transforming Family Divisions of Labor.

In 2009 Iceland has Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Security along with the Centre for Gender Equality will be hosting the conference.

For further information please contact the Centre for Gender Equality at jafnretti@jafnretti.is or at +354 4606200. The conference will be held in English.

The program will be made public at a later date. Please register at: http://www.yourhost.is/parentalleave2009/registration.html

Venue: Radisson SAS Hotel Saga, October 22, 2009, Reykjavik, Iceland