Les pays nordiques sont-ils aussi égalitaires qu'on l'affirme, si l'on examine les positions respectives des hommes et des femmes ?

In matters of gender equality, the Nordic countries often appear as special cases. They enjoy the reputation of having achieved gender equality much more closely than most of the other countries in the world, and they are often seen as pioneers regarding the promotion of equal opportunities for men and women. In the gender related indexes of the UN Human Development Report, the Nordic countries indeed range at the very top among the 163 countries inventoried (R.Kjeldstad, 2001) .
From an outsider's point of view, it appears that Nordic women improved their status and gained power in various areas earlier than other women in the world. A broad proportion of women integrated in politics, as well as a high rate of labour market participation, and a highly developed public welfare sector, including caring and service provision, also reinforce this picture. The emphasis has often been placed on the unity of these countries in terms of gender equality. Thus, a homogeneous Nordic area, where women enjoy an almost equal position with men in the public as well as in the private sphere, is today a well-known and common image across the world; and it seems possible to speak about a Nordic model regarding gender equality, especially women's representation in parliaments, participation in paid work, and gender equality policies.
However, the widespread positive image of women's successes in these various areas hides the persistence of major inequalities between Nordic women and men, but also large variations between the Nordic countries. These deficiencies in terms of gender equality and these major fluctuations between the Nordic countries question the image of the Nordic area as "an oasis of equality" ( Bergkvist, 1999)
Thus, we will try to better understand this image and explore its many nuances, by wondering how far the Nordic countries have achieved gender equality and to what extend it is possible to speak about a Nordic model in this respect.