How far are we from gender equality?

“International Women’s Day is at risk of turning into a kind of Valentine’s Day”, says European Studies lecturer Emma Prins. “A bunch of flowers and that’s it, while the focus should be on what still needs to be done. Not as a symbol, but as a trigger for real action. There’s this idea here in the Netherlands that we are progressive and tolerant, which leads into us no longer talking about the issues that still exist.” 

It’s a striking paradox: countries with a strong reputation for gender equality, such as the Netherlands and Sweden, simultaneously have relatively high rates of domestic violence and femicide. This is known as the Nordic paradox. 

Femicide 

“Because of that reputation, institutions and citizens pay less attention to what is happening behind closed doors. If you are a woman experiencing domestic violence, you’re quick to think: I must be one of the few here. And men think: what I’m doing isn’t as bad as in other countries, so it’s not a real problem.” 

Spain formulated concrete plans to combat femicide, while the Netherlands did not. Emma: “Instead of pointing to other countries as worse examples, we should look at countries that are doing well and learn from them.” 

More than a successful career 

In this country, discussions about gender equality often focus on promotion into top positions, but that is too narrow. “There are many more issues, such as whether women have access to appropriate healthcare. Or why are women from certain neighbourhoods being excluded by local governments? There is so much more going on in our lives than the question of whether we can become a CEO.” 

What can THUAS do? 

Awareness begins with education and not only for the students who are already thinking about these issues. “The workshops on social safety for all first‑year students are a good start, but we need more. The idea however that you embed this for all students is valuable.” 

Her advice to students: “Look at the bigger picture. Gender issues don’t stand alone. They are linked to war, racism, class struggle, and the rise of anti‑democratic movements. One of the characteristics of fascism is a rigid adherence to gender norms. Once you recognise that, you start to see it reflected in what is happening around you. Don’t allow things to become normal that never should be.”