My English colleague recently shared this video with me:
I know some English and American people who think like that, but very few from the Nordics who can see themselves in this picture. Certainly, no one in my family fits (unless we go back to past generations perhaps).
The situation described in the video portrays a very emotional woman, who takes pride in her home and is a sort of superwoman, who just does everything and swings the wip over her lazy husband. But from a Nordic perspective, this situation does not leave any role for the husband to fill.
She can earn the money and keep the household running so if all he does is making a mess, what does she need him for? I know relationships, where it is the other way around and the man is the one feeling, like he is doing the most around the house. They talk to each other and try to work it out and find a fair balance.
The Nordic woman would not give the man points for the things mentioned. It is expected that he cares about the home and both parties would be deeply disappointed or frustrated if they failed to agree on how to run things around the house and to what standard. The ideal Nordic partners support and respect each other as well as their home.
This is not to say that Nordic men and women are alike. Here is a perspective on gender from the North (Iceland):
As human beings, we have different strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps, one does the cooking and the other one does the laundry. Keeping common areas looking presentable is a shared responsibility.
If both take equal part in the running of the household, both parties can realise themselves in their jobs and become a rounded, complete person. A family person and a professional. Know when to nurse and when to lead.
I know some English and American people who think like that, but very few from the Nordics who can see themselves in this picture. Certainly, no one in my family fits (unless we go back to past generations perhaps).
The situation described in the video portrays a very emotional woman, who takes pride in her home and is a sort of superwoman, who just does everything and swings the wip over her lazy husband. But from a Nordic perspective, this situation does not leave any role for the husband to fill.
She can earn the money and keep the household running so if all he does is making a mess, what does she need him for? I know relationships, where it is the other way around and the man is the one feeling, like he is doing the most around the house. They talk to each other and try to work it out and find a fair balance.
The Nordic woman would not give the man points for the things mentioned. It is expected that he cares about the home and both parties would be deeply disappointed or frustrated if they failed to agree on how to run things around the house and to what standard. The ideal Nordic partners support and respect each other as well as their home.
This is not to say that Nordic men and women are alike. Here is a perspective on gender from the North (Iceland):
As human beings, we have different strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps, one does the cooking and the other one does the laundry. Keeping common areas looking presentable is a shared responsibility.
If both take equal part in the running of the household, both parties can realise themselves in their jobs and become a rounded, complete person. A family person and a professional. Know when to nurse and when to lead.
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