This post has become a very interesting commentary on various societies and their customs.
No country develops in a vacuum and there are reasons that Sweden has developed a culture where it is more typical for both spouses to work. There is a very high rate of taxation in Sweden and to maintain a good standard of living it has also required that both spouses work.But the people receive a great deal of benefits because of it , free healthcare, education and very generous parental leave to name but a few things.There is also a very strong belief in gender equality that as one poster mentioned during a divorce process a stay at home wife is not entitled to any alimony payments. This in itself would make many women cautious about leaving the workforce. So I would say that a tradition of gender equality with the possibility of financial ruin during a divorce would spur many women to work outside the home.. The same can't be said for Canada where I live. There is still a requirement for alimony in canadian courts because it has been deemed that a stay at home mom has contributed to the wealth of the family by caring for the children , the house, the garden taking care of the bills etc and that this should be recognized. Hence more women or men are comfortable leaving the workplace for a time because the financial cost will probably be less that for a Swedish parent. Having been to Sweden many times I can say without reservation that they are some of the nicest ,funniest and most reasonable people I have ever met , though maybe not the world's best hockey players Hee hee!
No country develops in a vacuum and there are reasons that Sweden has developed a culture where it is more typical for both spouses to work. There is a very high rate of taxation in Sweden and to maintain a good standard of living it has also required that both spouses work.But the people receive a great deal of benefits because of it , free healthcare, education and very generous parental leave to name but a few things.There is also a very strong belief in gender equality that as one poster mentioned during a divorce process a stay at home wife is not entitled to any alimony payments. This in itself would make many women cautious about leaving the workforce. So I would say that a tradition of gender equality with the possibility of financial ruin during a divorce would spur many women to work outside the home.. The same can't be said for Canada where I live. There is still a requirement for alimony in canadian courts because it has been deemed that a stay at home mom has contributed to the wealth of the family by caring for the children , the house, the garden taking care of the bills etc and that this should be recognized. Hence more women or men are comfortable leaving the workplace for a time because the financial cost will probably be less that for a Swedish parent. Having been to Sweden many times I can say without reservation that they are some of the nicest ,funniest and most reasonable people I have ever met , though maybe not the world's best hockey players Hee hee!