This Gender Equality Barometer is the fourth one in succession. The previous Barometers have been prepared in 1998, 2001 and 2004. The Barometers have examined Finnish women's and men' s estimates and attitudes concerning equality, and experiences concerning the realisation of gender equality in working life, at school and within the family.

A key perspective in the Barometer is the examination of the change that has taken place during the past decade. Many of the issues measured by the Barometer have not changed during the past ten years. Change can, however, be observed in highly educated women's increased experience of genderrelated disadvantages at work as well as in increased sexual harassment experienced by women. Some indicators also point to a strengthening of the father's role in the family.

During the past decade neither women nor men have estimated the position of women in society to equal that of men. An increase in the number of women in politics and the top positions in business and economics would be welcomed. By contrast, more men than thus far are wanted within the fields of welfare and health care.

While the majority of wage and salary earners find that gender equality at work is realised well or fairly well, women still experience their gender as much more of a disadvantage at work than men do. This inequality is most visible in questions related to pay, recognition of professional skill and career advancement.

Both women and men feel they can influence decisions made within their family. In addition, securing the family's financial security is now seen more as a responsibility to be shared by the parents than it previously was. Responsibility for some domestic tasks has been divided more equally between the parents, which has reduced the primary responsibility of the mother. However, the main responsibility for most domestic tasks continues to lie with the mother, and the majority of women still feel they shoulder too much responsibility for the work done at home.

Both women and men reckon that fathers should be more involved than now in the care and upbringing of their children. On the other hand, both women and men estimate that workplaces especially in the private sector do not always take a positive view of fathers' long family leaves. Workplaces may still regard the use of statutory family leaves as the right of women rather than men. 

Both women and men find that sexuality is overemphasised in the public sphere. This is visible as the portrayal of nearly naked bodies in outdoor advertising and the excessive sexiness of clothing for small girls. Concerns have also been raised about the effect of commercial channels (TV, internet, advertising and other entertainment) on children's and young people's views of sexuality. In addition, women and men both agree that sentences for rape are too lenient. The views on this issue have not changed in the past decade.

Tarja Nieminen. Gender Equality Barometer 2008. Helsinki 2009. 82 pp.
Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2009:2
ISSN 1236-2050 (print)
ISSN 1797-9854 (online)
ISBN 978-952-00-2752-0 (pb)
ISBN 978-952-00-2753-7 (PDF)