I want to visit Sweden

http://lifestyle.msn.com/mindbodyandsoul/womenintheworld/articlemc.aspx?cp-documentid=4951226&GT1=10114

I came across this article this morning which talks about how great it is to be a woman in Sweden - perhaps better than any where else in the world. I'm intrigued by this as we've always wanted to visit that area of the world.

These are a few of the key points of the article:

Negatives


A new female-run political party, Feminist Initiative, was launched in 2005 on such platforms as abolishing marriage laws — thereby granting any two (or three, or four!) people cohabiting the same rights as a husband and wife — and legally requiring fathers to take as much time off for child care as mothers. While the party was initially touted as "the way for women's future," its support plummeted after its convention several months ago, during which members sang a rowdy song about "chopping men to bits."




With its high income tax, women take home an average of $22,000 per year, compared with $29,000 for American women. Yet prices in Sweden are up to four times higher: a drugstore lipstick costs $15, a pair of non-designer jeans, $130. An evening out costs almost $150. For young women who like to have fun, it can be hard on the wallet.




To avoid double standards, women like Anna-Maria are fanatical about paying their fair share on dates. "I feel very uncomfortable if a man buys me dinner or drinks — as though I owe him something," she says. Fortunately she almost never finds herself in that predicament, since Swedish men rarely offer to pay, nor do they perform any other conventional courtesies, such as holding a door open or helping a woman visibly struggling under the load of a heavy bag. "Naturally, we can't complain," says Anna-Maria. "But apart from the financial issue, I can't say I'd mind the odd helpful gesture now and again."




With gender equality comes further dating awkwardness: By American standards, Swedish men are painfully slow to make the first romantic move. "Men treat women like friends," Anna-Maria says. "They rarely chat you up, unless they're drunk." Instead, Anna-Maria often does the asking herself. "Sure, I'd like to be chased, but men have grown lazy in Sweden. So I take the initiative. Though I have to say, it detracts from the sexual intrigue."




A glaring inequality persists in the wage gap — women earn 83 percent of the average male salary.

Chopping men to bits? hmm... not so sure I agree with that; men are good eye candy! I'm pretty fiscally 'aware' and would hate to have so much of money 'spoken for' before I get it. I'm not too 'into' the socialist culture Sweden has. And where did this author get the idea that American men open doors or pay for things? I love my hubby but he never did this when we were dating and still doesn't do it now... and it doesn't really bother me. And the wage gap is pretty much the same here, no surprise.

Positives


a 2005 report by the World Economic Forum found this Scandinavian nation to be the world's "most advanced country" for women, with greater levels of equality, power, health, and well-being among women than anywhere else.




The goal of equality starts young: "Anti-Sexism Awareness Training" begins in kindergarten, where male toddlers are encouraged to play with dolls, and females with toy tractors. In school, classes in cooking, sewing, metalworking, and woodworking are compulsory for both sexes. All education, including college, is free, and girls routinely outperform boys; in 2005, women made up more than 60 percent of all Swedish college students.




Anna-Maria regularly dates three or four men at a time without social disapproval. And when it comes to sexual freedom, it's hard to imagine a country with more relaxed rules. Sex and the City is shown on TV at the family hour of 6 p.m., and skinny-dipping in Stockholm's city-center lakes is reportedly a popular summer activity. One-night stands are also common.




Although most Swedish women work, the country has one of the highest birth rates in Europe, thanks to generous laws on parental leave.




Swedish couples — women and men — get 13 months paid leave and another three months at a fixed rate. Of that, 60 days must be taken by the mother, another 60 by the father, and the rest can be divided however they choose. (New mothers in the U.S. who have worked one year receive 12 weeks unpaid leave.)




This principle of equality extends to many other areas of life in Sweden. Women's sports are given as much TV airtime as men's, sometimes with higher ratings — 4 million Swedes watched the 2003 Women's World Cup soccer final.




Then there are innovations such as the world's first "female-friendly car," unveiled in 2004 by Swedish auto giant Volvo. Created by an all-female lead team, the car is packed with woman-specific features: seats that auto-adjust to a female body shape, a special groove in the headrest for ponytails, and a high-heel rest near the foot pedals.




In shopping malls, Sweden's pay-to-pee public toilets are often unisex to minimize those infamously long lines for women's bathrooms

Putting a toddler through 'Anti sexism awareness training'?? Not a bad thing I guess, but sometimes gender specific isn't a bad thing. The maternity leave laws are great - would have certainly come in handy this past year for us. Sweden also doesn't let premature infants born before 26 weeks to be resusitated... I guess socialist societies can set those rules. I like the equality they show but don't know how much I'd watch womans basketball etc. on TV... heck I don't watch mens sports either.

Ok, the female friendly car... I want one. I used to hate the pony tail problem with the headrest (when I had hair long enough for that). And the unisex bathrooms... not sure what I think of that. I have a hard enough time getting my husband to put the toilet seat down... not so sure of a stranger.

Still want to visit Sweden, in the summer.