Shortage of women in the Arctic is accelerating
(Nordic Council News, 22 March 2012) -- Women are leaving their homes in the Arctic Region at a faster pace and social change is not far behind. The Nordic Council Citizens' and Consumer Rights Committee intends to find out how the Nordic governments can tackle the problem. For example, the debate in Greenland depicts climate change as the major threat to the traditional culture of hunting and fishing, but social research points to the lack of women and social change as a serious threat. Maria Stenberg (S), Swedish member of the Nordic Council Citizens' and Consumer Rights Committee, has, in conjunction with the Nordic Council Theme Session on the Arctic, addressed a written question on the issue to the Nordic governments. "I would like to know what steps the Nordic governments intend to take to foster women's opportunities for education and a career. If nothing is done there is a risk that the emigration and subsequent shortage of women will be a greater threat than climate change to social progress in the Arctic Region", says Maria Stenberg. "The fact that more women are leaving the Arctic has a negative effect on both social life and on the economy. It limits the possibilities of finding a partner, building a family and maintaining family relations, but it also means a loss of skilled labour", observes Stenberg. The women move to get an education, better jobs and better schooling for their children. The largest shortage of women is in parts of northern Russia and Greenland where there are about 85 women to 100 men, but the flight of women is also noticeable in the northern parts of Finland, Norway and Sweden. "Further development of distance learning could be one way to break the vicious circle of emigration. Commitment to quality in general welfare and job creation for those who have an education are other important initiatives. Efforts to prevent negative attitudes and a positive political approach towards the structural discrimination which women face in the workplace are also important measures. Unless we get a united political grip on this issue there is a great risk that the Arctic will become destitute of women", says Maria Stenberg. ... The lack of women is worst in the peripheral areas of the Arctic which are highly specialised in the traditional male dominated activities such as fishing, agriculture, forestry, mining and the military. The trend has been developing over several decades and at an increasing speed over the last 10-15 years. The distinguishing feature is that the male population tends to emigrate temporarily while the women move permanently from the region.
Posted 25 March 2012; 5:00:34 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Circumpolar News, Communities, March12, Social Issues, Women, Children and Families