Swedish Dads is a photo exhibition based on portraits of a select group of fathers who choose to stay home with their babies for at least six months. Photographer Johan Bävman examines why these fathers have chosen to stay home with their children, what the experience has given them, and how their relationship with both their partners and their children has changed as a result. The exhibition aims to show the effects of gender equality in parenting on both individuals and society.
The photo exhibition Swedish Dads has been travelling to more than 50 countries all over the world. The exhibition portrays 25 fathers in Sweden and was showing at Epicenter Amsterdam from March 4 – March 9, 2019 as a joint collaboration between the Swedish Institute, the Swedish Embassy in the Hague, Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Epicenter Amsterdam.
The Photo Exhibition Swedish Dads was a part of The Gender Game Changer Theme week which will included daily Lunch talks with interesting speakers, Film night and more.
Swedish Dads
Sweden was the first country in the world to replace maternity leave with parental leave, in 1974. More than 40 years later, fathers take roughly 29 per cent of the total number of days available to the couple. If fathers’ paternity leave continues to increase at the same pace it has kept so far during the 21st century, the use of parental leave will not be gender equal until the mid-2030s.
Swedish Dads is a photo exhibition based on portraits of fathers who choose to stay home with their babies for at least six months. Photographer Johan Bävman examines why these fathers have chosen to stay home with their children, what the experience has given them, and how their relationship with both their partners and their children has changed as a result. The exhibition aims to show the effects of gender equality in parenting on both individuals and society.
In his own words
‘I use portraits of fathers with their children in everyday situations, and interviews with dads to aim the spotlight on fathers who prioritise the connection to their children and family before their job and career. But the focus is also on the universal and loving aspects of parenting, regardless of whether you are the mother or father.
‘During my own paternity leave, I had trouble finding information about parenting from a father's perspective. From reading and seeing other dads who share their thoughts and ideas about parenting, perhaps more men will start to think about their role as a father and as a partner. I think that is an important step on the road towards a more equal society.’
Sweden’s parental benefit system is one of the most generous in the world, allowing parents to stay home with their children and receive compensation from the state. One child entitles parents to 480 days of benefits. For the first 390 days parents are entitled to nearly 80 per cent of their pay, up to a maximum level. The remaining 90 days are paid at a lower fixed rate. Of the first 390 days, 90 are reserved for each parent while the rest can be transferred freely.
This exhibition is produced by the Swedish Institute (SI) in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden in The Netherlands, Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Epicenter Amsterdam.
Recommended events
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all participants for contributing to the success of the Swedish Chamber Patron Dinner on November 22, 2016. We cordially thank H.E. Ambassador of Sweden and Honorary Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Mr. Per Holmström for hosting the Patron Dinner 2016 and Mr. Jeroen van der Veer, ING Keynote speaker and Honorary Guest, for sharing his experiences and introducing the Round Table discussions.
