The gender disparity in the Nordic healthcare sector has significant social, cultural and economic implications in societies that prioritise equality. Despite their progressive stance, Nordic countries continue to grapple with the persistent overrepresentation of women in healthcare, reflecting a broader gender division (Eurostat, 2024a). Transformations in men's roles are critical drivers of broader social progress. Although men's participation in caregiving may initially seem secondary, it plays a strategic role in advancing gender equality and addressing major social challenges. Over the past two decades, research has consistently shown that gender equality and shared caregiving responsibilities lead to improved quality of life and better health outcomes for individuals of all genders (Scambor et al., 2023).
Gender segregation in health occupations is a persistent issue that affects the composition and dynamics of the healthcare workforce. It can be observed in two forms: horizontal segregation, where one gender is overrepresented in certain roles, and vertical segregation, where one gender holds more leadership positions. This report examines both forms within the nursing profession, focusing particularly on the horizontal segregation of men and women in nursing. Despite efforts to promote gender equality, nursing remains largely female-overrepresented, with men facing barriers to entry and career progression. Recruitment strategies and measures to address this imbalance are crucial to fostering a more gender-diverse workforce in the healthcare sector.
To overcome such barriers and foster a more gender-balanced health sector, the “
Share the Care” project has collected experiences of measures and implemented them with the aim of helping educational programmes to address those inequalities. The project was funded by the Nordic Gender Equality Fund (NIKK– Nordik information för Kunskap om kön) and implemented in Iceland and in selected regions in Norway and Finland. The project comprises six main tasks – interventions designed to enhance the situation of men in nursing education, targeting both the individual and organisational level. The tasks were derived from recommendations made in the scope of an earlier project titled “Men in Nursing Education” (Nordfjell & Nielsen, 2019). The “Men in Nursing Education” project report identified low enrolment and high dropout rates among male nursing students as key areas in which educational institutions should do more to recruit and retain men. Several suggestions were developed, with awareness, knowledge and student involvement being key aspects required for institutions to build an environment and culture where male nursing students can thrive, leading to an improved diversity situation.
This report has been structured with the aim of providing a detailed account of the "Share the Care" project and its key findings. It begins with a background literature review focused on gender segregation in healthcare, particularly in nursing. Following the overview of current literature, the report continues with a section devoted to “The Nordic Perspective on Gender in Nursing” and a “Results” section, which present the project outcomes and recruitment strategies. That section focuses on implementation of the project, detailing recruitment efforts and other measures taken to address gender norms. The report concludes with reflections on limitations, biases and recommendations for the future. The report is aimed at helping policy-makers, health sector workers and educators in their endeavours to achieve more equal and gender-balanced societies in the Nordic countries. This report can also serve as inspiration for global communities facing similar challenges. In addition a short policy brief which focus on recommendations is available here:
First aid kit to share the care