Oh! to be in Sweden

Gender thoughts by Nadira Gunatilleke

There is no gender discrimination or violence against women here inSweden. It seems there are no gender based problems in this country. Both men and women are being treated equally by law and by the public. Therefore women do not need to protest in streets holding placards in their hands or fight for their rights. This is not Sri Lanka but Sweden!

Here in Sweden women are not being treated as a special species. They are being treated similar to men. But this does not mean that they are being prevented from enjoying special facilities which every and each on this earth should enjoy such as a special seat in every bus for pregnant women.

There is a special seat close to the entrance in every bus (public transport service) and it is very clearly stated that it is reserved for pregnant women by pasting a permanent sticker. There is a special place (very clearly stated) to carry infants and babies. Whenever a pregnant mother or a mother with a baby gets on to a bus they definitely get their seat and the place. The significant fact is they never need to ask for it.

Women get no special treatment here. They have to do all the work men do. No one is there to help you because you are a woman. You have no excuses for anything because you are a woman ! But if you need any help you should ask for it and you will get it. It does not matter whether you are a woman or a man. But here in Sweden you will not get any favours or special treatment because you are a woman.

Even if you are a beauty queen there are no bus drivers who will offer you a seat and start chatting with you!

We always talked about our rich culture and the good treatment given to women. But the reality is even a toilet reserved for women is not only for them. Somehow males creep into them and scribble filth on the walls. But here in Sweden there are common toilets for both men and women and special sanitary facilities for women but you cannot see any filth in them. All of us can guess what will happen if we construct public toilets for both sexes in Sri Lanka !

Women freely travel here and there by public transport services and private vehicles.

They are completely safe in public places even at midnight and nothing happens to them. Their parents, husbands or relatives never find their beloved daughter's wife's or sister's body in a thicket or in a river the next morning.