Exploring Sustainability in Parliamentary Gender Equality Work. Insights from the Swedish Riksdag

Figures & data

Table 1. Framework for analysing sustainable gender equality work in parliaments.

	Representation	Infrastructure	Culture
Durability	Earlier reforms/initiatives/measures are maintained and reinforced in later periods, with no reversal or backlash
Renewal	Recurring adoption of activities/initiatives/measures over time

Table 2. Summarizing the gender equality work of the Riksdag.

	Representation	Infrastructure	Culture
1994–2002	Implementation of zipper lists and other measures to attain gender balance on party lists Adoption of national targets on the equal representation of women and men in public agency boards, expert groups and government inquires	Establishment of the Speaker’s Women’s Network Responsibility for gender equality assigned to the Committee on the Labour Market Establishment of childcare facilities Introduction of fixed meeting hours in the Chamber and committees	Gender equality placed on the political agenda Seminars and workshops on gender equality topics arranged
Durability Renewal	Durability of regulatory and institutional changes too early to assess. There is renewal in the sense that there are a number of recurring gender equality initiatives and activities, such as seminars and workshops
2002–2006	Continued discussions of gender-balanced leadership practices in standing committees	Speaker’s Women’s Network strengthened with budgetary and administrative support Parliamentary activities scheduled in accordance with the school calendar Decision to adopt Gender Equality Action Plans for each term Policy against sexual harassment adopted	Seminars and workshops arranged Overview of research on gender and the Swedish Riksdag conducted Interview study with MPs concerning gender equality conducted Policy document adopted: 15 Proposals for a Gender Equal Parliament
Durability Renewal	Durability with regard to, the Women’s network, childcare facilities and meeting hours Recurring seminars and workshops to raise awareness and build capacity
2006–2014	Continued discussions on gender balanced representation	Speaker’s Women’s Network transformed into the Reference Group for Gender Equality Issues and given a more permanent structure Implementation of Gender Equality Action Plans	Seminars and workshops arranged Encouragement of recurring studies of gender equality in Parliament Interview study with MPs conducted on gender equality in parliament (in-house studies)
Durability Renewal	Durability with regard to the Speaker’s Reference Group for Gender Equality Issues, childcare facilities, meeting hours, Gender Equality Action Plans Recurring seminars and workshops to raise awareness and to build capacity, recurring in-house studies (literature reviews and interview studies)
2014–2022	Continued discussions on gender balanced leadership practices in standing committees	Speaker’s Working Group for Gender Equality Issues strengthened and gender-balanced, more closely linked to the Riksdag Board, and assigned an increased budget Implementation and follow-up of Gender Equality Action Plans Updated policy against sexual harassment New policy adopted to facilitate balance between working life and private life Whistle-blower function announced	Seminars and workshops arranged Extensive studies of gender equality in the Riksdag conducted by scholars Explicit norm on gender equality Speakers urged to direct attention to gender equality
Durability Renewal	Durability with regard to the Speaker’s Reference Group for Gender Equality Issues, childcare facilities, meeting hours, Gender Equality Action Plans Recurring seminars and workshops to raise awareness and to build capacity, recurring studies by external researchers (surveys and interview studies)