Gender equality in the Faroe Islands: Positions and oppositions

The Faroe Islands have long-standing political and cultural connections to Denmark. One consequence is that gender equality legislation; family policy and the welfare system bear clear resemblances to the Nordic welfare model. However, whilst there is a general consensus in the Nordic countries, that values of gender equality are important for national identity (Andersen & Ravn, 2008; Þorvaldsdóttir, 2011), this does not appear to be the case in the Faroe Islands. Publicised cases, e.g. discussions of paternal leave in Parliament, the gender equality legislation and policy have been subject to strong resistance and backlash, with essentialist, liberalist, and island identity arguments put forward against gender equality measures (Hayfield, 2020). The Faroe Islands, therefore, appear to be positioned somewhere in-between receptivity (of Nordic egalitarian discourses) and resistance (to gender equality discourses). This paper will explore these tensions by analysing political discussions relating to gender equality legislation and policy.

References
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