Modern Danish women have the great fortune of being born and bred in a country with some of the best female-empowering fertile ground in the world. Through The Scandi Female Code we offer a method as a starting point to uncover and realise the immense female potential around the world.
The change for women in Denmark and Scandinavia came with literacy, a legacy from the Protestant Reformation (1517-1648) led by Martin Luther, where Scandinavia underwent a huge shift from Catholicism to Lutheran Protestantism. The Scandinavian Lutherans were concerned with equality through education for men as well as for women. To make the wisdom of the day available to all, the bible was translated into local languages.
Education continued to be key to societal progress and, though taxes, was made free and accessible to all citizens from the age of six and throughout university. With free education followed the possibility of DREAMING – one of four pillars upon which the Danish and Scandinavian models are built. Democracy prospered and trade unions fought for gender equality, helping to empower women to believe in themselves and to unfold their potential. BELIEVING is thus the second pillar of The Scandi Female Code. The Danish model is based on free and quality public care in terms of healthcare, childcare and care for the elderly, as the services are paid for through taxes all Scandinavians pay. This allows Scandinavian women to plan a career in combination with raising a family, because they can trust that there is quality childcare for their children while they are at work. People have six weeks of paid holidays and a year or more of paid maternity or paternity leave. Scandinavians need not worry about the elderly, as they are provided for as well at elderly homes, allowing generations to gather primarily for enjoyable social reasons. When you get ill, quality medical care is also free. PLANNING is thus the third societal pillar. Last but not least, the Scandinavian society is built on the concept of hygge, a special time of intimacy where people take pleasure from the presence of soothing things and build up their energy. ENERGY is thus the fourth and last pillar of The Scandi Female Code.