This chapter explores the strategies used by social-democratic parties in Norway and Sweden to feminise politics, and evaluates the extent to which New Labour can learn from these states. It provides a review of the opportunities for a feminisation of politics in these countries since the 1970s, under the headings of women's substantive representation, women in the core executive, state feminism, and women's-policy platform to gain female votes. The chapter then reports the respective degrees of ‘women-friendliness’ in the economy, welfare state, and foreign policy. Some pointers to New...

This chapter explores the strategies used by social-democratic parties in Norway and Sweden to feminise politics, and evaluates the extent to which New Labour can learn from these states. It provides a review of the opportunities for a feminisation of politics in these countries since the 1970s, under the headings of women's substantive representation, women in the core executive, state feminism, and women's-policy platform to gain female votes. The chapter then reports the respective degrees of ‘women-friendliness’ in the economy, welfare state, and foreign policy. Some pointers to New Labour regarding how a party can make a difference to women's lives and the pitfalls that it might encounter along the way are presented. Progress towards women-friendly policies since the 1970s has been instrumental rather than ideological. The chapter also illustrates that little can be achieved without well-developed parental leave and a cash-support system.