Swedish dads seem to be making quite a stir in U.S newsmedia: this year an exhibition on Swedish Dads will take place in Washington D.C. Visitors to Sweden from the U.S. are reportedly amazed by all the “gay nannies” pushing strollers on the streets of Sweden. We know this is only the daily beat for dads on parental leave. Why all the fuss?
In the U.S. fathers are increasingly staying at home, and websites like Fatherly celebrate dads in US families with tips, tricks and things to buy. Among corporations, organizations and in the public sector something is happening. It’s one thing that Spotify is exporting Swedish values by offering six months’ worldwide paid parental leave. But companies like Google, Netflix, and even the Pentagon are supporting increased maternity and paternity leave. The U.S. Department of Labor has recently prepared a policy brief on the importance of parental leave for fathers.
With calls for more empowered women, is it about time to empower dads and what does that mean in American and Swedish contexts? What can be shared between our countries concerning the role of dads? We consider what it is like to be an American father in Sweden and a Swedish father in the US.
Join us in exploring the economics, attitudes, values, and professional and cultural dimensions of being a father in the U.S and Sweden. Of course, moms and everyone else inspired by the topic must come too!
“Swedish Dads” – Photographs by Johan Bävman, soon to be on tour on the US, will be shown during the mingle. The Swedish Institute has generously made available their slideshow Life Puzzle, which will also be shown in parts at the Forum.
When: 18.00 – 20.30 on April 11, 2016 (doors open 17.40), Forum discussion 18.00-19.30, mingle with light refreshments 19.30-20.30
Where: Hotel Hilton Slussen, Stockholm
Registration: Entrance to our Intercultural Forum is 100kr for members, 150kr for
guests and 50kr for students. Payment can be made when registering online:
Inquiries can be sent to
events@americanclub.se.
Featuring:
Tiina Bruno, creator of the concept Parentsmart Companies, and renowned speaker and coach in Japan, Europe and Scandinavia on the topic of business value with parenthood. See her blog at https://tiinabruno.wordpress.
Michael Wells is a fatherhood researcher and American father living in Sweden. Michael has published over a half-dozen articles and two book chapters on how Sweden, a country known for gender equality, does not treat fathers equally compared to mothers. His research examines family policies, especially parental leave, as well as societal institutions, like the Swedish child health field. Michael currently works in the Department of Public Health at Karolinska Institutet and at the Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS) at Stockholm University where he is running intervention studies to improve the amount and types of support fathers receive. He has also been an adjunct professor at several American universities, lecturing on parenting, child development, and the family from a global perspective, among other courses.
Our guest commentator is David Landes, a long time presence at TheLocal Sweden and former Club Board Member. David will contribute his perspective as an American father in Sweden having been on parental leave here.
David, Michael and Tiina will be interviewed by dad and Club Board Member Anders Bjers who will also moderate the audience discussion.
Further speakers may be added prior to the Forum date.