‘You need laws and structures that lead the way to gender equality’ – Finnish PM.
Written by The Irish Times
Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin said it’s now clear that women need laws to protect them from discrimination in the work place.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, 34-year-old Ms Marin said the issue can’t be left to the private sector.
“You need laws and structures that lead the way to gender equality,” Ms Marin said during a panel debate on Thursday. “It doesn’t just happen by itself.”
The concern is that an unconscious bias kicks in, steering men in a position to hire toward “similar-minded and similar-looking people” who are deemed to be “more qualified,” she said during a panel discussion on social mobility and gender parity.
The Social Democratic head of government, who rose to power last month, has made headlines the world over for her socially progressive views. That includes a discussion of the merits of a four-day work week as technology increases productivity.
