Ημέρα πένθους σήμερα για όλους όσους παρακολουθήσαμε το ταξίδι της Αμαλίας στη ζωή και στη blogόσφαιρα. Παρότι δε σε γνώρισα νιώθω πως χάθηκε ένας δικός μου άνθρωπος.
Καλή ξεκούραση, Αμαλία..
May 2007
Monthly Archive
May 27, 2007
May 11, 2007
Notice: The article below is written for Uusi Rovaniemi newspaper, property of Lapin Kansa Oy.
International Women’s Day is marked on 8th March every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. Mother’s Day is marked in our calendars on the second Sunday of May. Based on these two global days of celebration and inspired by the feedback I got from female readers about my column, I am going to describe my views on Finnish women.
Historically speaking, Finland with its harsh climate, infertile ground and lack of upper class established the grounds for the widespread participation of women in working life. However, women’s salaries in both the private and the public sector are still only 80% of men’s salaries, even though women in every age group are more highly educated than men. Despite these disparities, women hold leading positions in Finnish cultural life and politics. From Miina Sillanpää to Tarja Halonen, Finland’s first woman head of state, women play a significant role in society.
When I had first moved to Finland, I was intimidated by all these active and dynamic women around me. My impression was that every lady –despite age group- was full of energy. Finnish women seem open minded, willing to explore new things and travel. They are often more talkative than men. They are so independent that almost seems to live better on their own. However, in Lapland there is a large amount of young females getting married and having kids while they are still studying and they receive support by the state.
Personally, I have learned a lot about Finnish culture through Finnish women. My Friend Family ‘mother’, Riitta, is a practical woman, capable of bonding a family with values in a cosy, clean household. Another key person in my acclimatization in Finnish culture is my boyfriend’s mother, Marjatta, who is a woman full of creativity, great time management skills and patience to teach me the Lappish slang.
On the other hand, I have encountered emotionally dysfunctional mothers; two-faced friends; women who envy foreigners seeing them as a threat to their own relationships. But not everyone is the same. Therefore, choosing the correct person to start a friendship or relationship is vital.
As Eva suggested, I am going to conclude with 5 tips for Finnish ladies:
1) Be sure about the right timing (and right man) to get married (to) and have kids. Do not be a statistic. The total divorce rate in Finland is one of the highest in Europe and abortion levels are also high.
2) Do not abuse alcohol. Summer is coming and a flat stomach is a must!
3) Allow men to be gentlemen. You do not lose your independence if someone buys you coffee or carries the bags from the supermarket.
4) Remember! Women who seek to equal with men lack ambition. (Timothy Leary)
5) Sure God created man before woman. You always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece.
Happy Mother’s Day!
*rouva= lady (in finnish)
