Swedish (or dare I say Scandinavian?) equality is unlike anything I have encountered elsewhere. I was born and raised in Sweden by two regular, working-class parents on a farm outside a small town. I grew up with a brother and a sister, and not once did my parents define me by my sex.
Growing up as a girl in Sweden meant I did everything my mom did and everything my dad did. Being a girl did not define what I was or was not allowed to do.
I helped my dad paint the house and bake, or I mowed the lawn or cared for the animals alongside my mom. While not every girl in Sweden may have been raised in such an equal way, the concept of Swedish equality, especially compared to what I have seen in other countries, is striking. Here, women do not face the usual pressures of needing to marry, have children, or find a husband. Household tasks are not inherently male or female, but rather something practical everyone should learn.
Growing up, I was encouraged to work, follow my passions, and find my place in the world. This continues in my adult life and whilst I may get confused looks when I am digging a hole in my garden in Italy, in Sweden no one would even care.
