Nora’s Sisters

International Seminar “Nora’s Sisters” the 26 November 2008
at Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUC-Rio), Brazil
by State Secretary Kjell-Erik Øie
Ministry of Children and Equality; Norway

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Dear friends,

It is a great honor for me to be at this “Nora’s Sisters” manifestation to commemorate the centennial of our playwright Henrik Ibsen’s death - here in Rio. The manifestations started in 2006. This event has turned out to be one of Norway’s greatest international cultural manifestations ever – with more than 8000 different activities (performances, exhibitions, seminars, workshops etc.).

Today’s program focuses both on Ibsen and on other important aspect of life. Aspects which are still of great importance both in Brazil and in Norway – since it captures political power, idealism or fanatism, globalization, corruption, environment, neglected children, individual freedom and gender equality.

Ibsen did not provide the answers. Thus, the questions he raised in his dramas, can be considered, debated and discussed by any new generation, in any country. Just as we are about to do here, today.

The Nora’s Sisters are the sisters after Nora in the play “A Doll’s House”. This drama challenged cultural and social norms of gender relations in marriage. It became a basis for women to define themselves and the values by which they wanted to live. Ibsen lets Nora leave her husband and children in search for a life more true to herself. But Ibsen never gives the answers; he does not let us know what happens to Nora after she leaves. But Nora made a choice. And lets agree it is important that women have a choice and to have such a choice they have to be economically independent.

I will not go into what I believe happened to Nora, but I know quite much of what happened to her sisters – and her brothers later.

It is nearly a century gone since Norwegian women achieved full suffrage in 1913. As a matter of fact, my great, great grandfather was the first to raise that question in the Norwegian parliament. I think it was in 1896. But my grandfather lost.
In the debate before the voting, parliament members who were against the proposal claimed that if women got the right to vote, the porridge would burn on the stove and children would cry, lounging for their mothers. My great great grandfather however, stated the following: This is about power. If women get more power, men loose power.
It was about power then, it is about power today.
To me, gender equality – and the lives of Nora’s sisters and brothers – is about redistributing power and care.
Women need more power; men need to stay more at home with their kids. Men also need to take more part in caring for sick and elderly people. I think this is a win win situation. That is why my Government has, in its declaration stated that our policy will give men and women the same opportunities and real gender equality.
In several ways, men too are loosing in lack of a gender equal society. They die earlier, they are more exposed to violence, they commit suicide more often, and most importantly: Too many men find out too late that they should have spent more time with their families.
Modern societies all over the world need to utilize all human resources, with their personal qualities, education and skills, regardless of gender. Both women and men must be able to participate in working life, social life and family life. It is a matter of democracy, and to be honest: It should be a matter of common sense. We are the first and as far as I know the only country in the world to have an Act on gender representation on the boards of public limited companies (from 1 January 2006) in state owned companies and inter municipal companies (from 1 January 2004). And yes, the women are well qualified.
Personally I am for the use of quotas. Application of quotas is not about reinstating competent men with mediocre women, but to recruit skilled women to replace mediocre men. Men in leading positions have their own recruiting methods. They tend to appoint other men, very often with the same experiences and background at themselves. They just don’t talk about it. This hidden structure must be replaces by an open and democratic process.

The key of gender equality is redistribution of power, care and work. We must try to indentify important barriers that both affect men’s possibilities to practise care, and women to get more power (in politics and business). Both genders must choose education and to make occupational choice that breaks with traditional and cultural patterns. When doing so, we will meet strong resistance.

People seldom let go of power or voluntary. Or, when it comes to some Norwegian women: let go of care voluntary. There are counter forces to such a development. These counter forces needs to be addressed both by politicians as me, and by manifestations as Nora’s sister. When it comes to gender equality we must seize any possibility given.

I am sure that the seminar here in Rio will be inspiring for all of us and raise many challenging questions, quite in the spirit of Henrik Ibsen.  And hopefully, we will find some answers together on the way to a more gender equal society.

Thank you for your attention, and the best of  luck with the seminar.