The project aims to raise awareness of pension inequality affecting women in Sweden. Indeed, a recent initiative seeks to shed light on the pervasive issue of pension inequality and its detrimental impact on women in Sweden.
According to a recent study by the Nordic Council, Sweden holds the largest gender pension gap among Nordic countries, with an average disparity of 28% between men’s and women’s pensions[i]. This financial divide places 17.2% of female pensioners at risk of poverty, compared to only 9% of their male counterparts, as reported by Eurostat. Additionally, 43% of these women rely on the guaranteed minimum pension, designed for those with minimal or no supplementary pension benefits.
Members of SI Gunnel Hazelius-Berg, motivated by insights from an SI webinar during the 67th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), decided to investigate how this issue manifests in Sweden. Their objective was to raise awareness about pension inequalities and educate the public by organizing a dedicated webinar.
The group reached out to experts from the Swedish Women’s Lobby, inviting them to share their knowledge and provide guidance during the webinar. They also launched a social media campaign in early September to coincide with the critical period when many Swedish women’s pensions run out, highlighting that women’s pensions often only last until mid-September compared to men’s.
The Soroptimists views this project as a crucial step in sparking a broader debate on this pressing social issue, despite acknowledging the long road ahead. One webinar participant remarked: “How can we accept these poor pension conditions? I now realize how many ‘traps’ there are to getting a good pension simply because you are a woman.”
Given that past income disparities cannot be altered, the focus must shift to other principles for achieving equality. Addressing inequalities arising from childcare responsibilities, survivorship, and economic difficulties post-divorce could play a vital role in bridging the pension gap between genders.
This project, therefore, not only aims to raise awareness but also to prompt action towards systemic change.