Gender equality in work life: the Finnish perspective

Objectives The main objective of this study was to map and examine the current gender equality status perceptions of Finns. Furthermore, this thesis aims to identify the prevailing gender equality challenges in work life and contemplate the possible factors which are hindering the development. Summary Gender equality is a topic which is internationally discussed in academia as well as in media and social discourses at large. For decades, Finland has been regarded as one of the forerunners in gender equality. Gender equality has been one of the main development objectives of the Finnish government for years. Yet, Finland continues to face prevailing gender equality challenges. Despite being on the improvement agenda year after year the progress seems slow. The gender pay gap, parental leave, career advancement and recruitment remain among the issues that require further improvement efforts. This suggests that the prevalent perception of gender equality might not match the reality in Finland. The gender equality perceptions of six Generation X professionals were mapped by conducting qualitative interviews. Conclusions Even though, the degree of gender equality in Finland is high, certain challenges remain to be solved. The most prominent challenges revolve around pay, career advancement, recruitment as well as parental leave. The degree of gender equality in work life seems to be higher in the public sector while the largest differences can be identified in the private sector. While the status is more favorable in the public sector, the same issues continue to prevail