Denmark scores well on the World Economic Forum’s gender equality index. Women in Denmark generally work outside the home and pursue careers while raising a family, assisted by the country’s generous parental leave and tax-subsidized daycare. Women are well-represented in Denmark’s government. This is why Denmark is so good for women.
Below are 10 things you should know about women in Denmark:
1. Women in Denmark gained the right to vote on 5 June 1915. The Danish Women’s Society (DK) debated, and informally supported, women’s suffrage from 1884, but it did not support it publicly until in 1887, when it supported the suggestion of the parliamentarian Fredrik Bajer to grant women municipal suffrage.
2. According to the data, only a quarter of Danish women consider themselves feminists, a stark contrast to neighbouring Sweden, where 46% do, and a smaller share even than in countries like Italy, Spain and the UK, which otherwise lag far behind Denmark on gender equality.
3. There had been two major periods of women’s movement in Denmark. The first one was from 1870 to 1920. The second was from 1970 to 1985.
4. The first women’s movement was led by the Dansk Kvindesamfund (“Danish Women’s Society”). Line Luplau was one of the most notable woman in this era. Tagea Brandt was also part of this movement, and in her honor was established Tagea Brandt Rejselegat or Travel Scholarship for women.
5. The second wave of women’s movement was organized with the Rødstrømpebevægelsen (the Red Stocking movement). The effort led to “institutionalized feminism” (managed directly by the Danish government) and to the “mainstreaming of equal opportunities” between Danish men and women.
6. Denmark moved up to the best country in the world to be a woman. Some of the reasons behind are government promoting gender equality by offering earnings-related day care system and a very flexible parental leave policy. It is well-known that countries in Northern Europe are ranked some of the happiest worldwide.
7. The maternal mortality rate in Denmark is 12 deaths/100,000 live births (as of 2010). Although this is low by international standards, it is higher than in many other Western countries, and it has increased in recent years.
8. Abortion laws were liberalized in 1973, allowing the procedure to be done on-demand during the first 12 weeks, and in specific circumstances at later stages of the pregnancy.
9. Denmark provides for sex education in schools. The age of consent in Denmark is 15.
10. In 2020, out of 3 million people who registered in the Danish labor force, females made up 47%. The increased influx of women’s participation in the workforce demonstrates that females have strong representation in the labor market.
Despite this increase in labor participation, Denmark has stalled in its efforts to reduce gender wage gap differences. The Global Gender Gap Report for 2021 revealed a 38% income gap between men and women.
