When Statues Become Fathers: Creative Street Art on Equal Parenting

  November 20, 2024
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What happens when male statues become fathers for a day? A creative campaign in Sweden is challenging traditional norms about parenting roles.

Imagine a bronze statue of a stoic leader, now wearing a bright pink baby sling with a doll nestled inside. On International Men’s Day, November 19th, male statues across Sweden were adorned with baby slings and carriers as part of a unique campaign to spotlight unequal parenting responsibilities.

Traditionally representing power, labor, or other masculine attributes, these statues were reimagined to symbolize fathers as caregivers. The campaign, organized by the think tank Arena Idé, is part of the #kvantitetstidspappan initiative, aimed at encouraging fathers to spend more time with their children and urging employers to play a larger role in enabling this.

A historical statue of a man, symbolizing leadership and authority, is humorously adorned with a white baby sling carrying a doll. This creative intervention is part of a campaign by Arena Idé, highlighting the unequal division of parental responsibilities in Sweden. It calls attention to the underrepresentation of fathers in caregiving roles, despite progressive parental leave policies. The statue, set against a backdrop of urban architecture and autumn leaves, represents the campaign's goal to challenge societal norms and advocate for shared parenting responsibilities.

Despite Sweden’s globally recognized parental leave policies, significant disparities remain. Swedish fathers take only 30.9% of parental leave days and 38% of sick leave to care for children.

A recent Novus survey, conducted in collaboration with Make Equal, further reveals that expectations around parental leave remain unequal in Swedish workplaces. Through this campaign, Arena Idé hopes to challenge these norms and has proposed an employer bonus for workplaces that encourage an equal division of parental leave.

The statues involved in the campaign—such as Standing Man in Umeå, Det svenska tungsinnet in Malmö, and Hjalmar Branting in Stockholm—were decorated with dolls in baby slings and carriers.

A statue of a man standing in a snowy urban plaza is wrapped with a yellow baby sling holding a doll wearing a pink hat. This is part of a campaign by Arena Idé for International Men’s Day, aimed at addressing unequal parental roles in Sweden. The use of the baby sling symbolizes fatherhood and caregiving, highlighting the need for greater participation of fathers in childcare and challenging societal norms about gender roles. The surrounding area features benches, shops, and evening lighting, emphasizing the public and thought-provoking nature of the campaign.

This created a contrast between the statues’ traditional symbolism and the modern role of engaged fathers.

The initiative draws inspiration from the UK-based group The Dad Shift, which earlier this year launched a similar campaign highlighting gaps in Britain’s parental leave policies.

Vilgot Österlund, a statistician at Arena Idé, emphasizes the importance of changing workplace norms: “When discussing gender equality in workplaces, the focus is often on women and the negative consequences of inequality for them. But here, we see that men are also losing out on something invaluable—time with their children. Through the statue campaign, the new statistics, and our proposals, we hope to make this clearer!”

A bronze statue of a historical figure is wrapped in a mustard-yellow baby sling with white polka dots, holding a doll dressed in colorful baby clothes. This creative modification is part of Arena Idé's International Men’s Day campaign to highlight unequal parenting roles in Sweden. The statue, set against a backdrop of stone architecture and softly glowing lights, symbolizes the campaign's call for increased paternal involvement in caregiving and shared parenting responsibilities. The use of the sling contrasts with the statue’s traditional stoic appearance, sparking thought and dialogue about modern fatherhood.

Read more about the campaign and the proposed reforms in the original article by Arena Idé: Link to the original article.

A life-sized bronze statue of a man wearing a baseball cap is adorned with a light gray baby sling, holding a doll with orange pigtails and colorful clothes. This installation is part of Arena Idé's International Men’s Day campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the unequal distribution of parenting responsibilities in Sweden. The statue is placed in an outdoor setting with autumn leaves, a red wooden building, and railings in the background, blending everyday life with the campaign's thought-provoking message on fatherhood and shared caregiving roles.
A bronze statue of two men working together on a large grinding stone is modified with a baby carrier strapped to one of the figures, holding a doll. The baby carrier, a modern addition, contrasts with the rugged, labor-intensive depiction of the figures. This intervention is part of Arena Idé's International Men’s Day campaign, drawing attention to the unequal sharing of parenting responsibilities in Sweden and encouraging societal reflection on the role of fathers. The backdrop includes residential buildings, a frosty ground, and a passing vehicle, situating the scene in a contemporary urban context.
A bronze statue of a bent-over man wearing a hat is humorously wrapped in a pink baby sling, holding a doll with a striped cap. The playful addition of the baby sling contrasts with the laborious pose of the statue, symbolizing the dual demands of work and caregiving. This intervention is part of Arena Idé's International Men’s Day campaign, highlighting the unequal distribution of parenting responsibilities in Sweden. The scene is set in a cobblestone plaza with nearby buildings and trees, emphasizing the campaign's goal of sparking public reflection on modern fatherhood and shared caregiving roles.
A painted metal statue of two figures, one in a suit and the other in a sports uniform labeled "Gefle IF," is modified with a blue baby sling holding a doll. The sling, wrapped around the figure in the suit, represents a modern caregiving role. This creative adjustment is part of Arena Idé's International Men’s Day campaign, addressing the unequal sharing of parenting duties in Sweden. Set against a concrete wall with an arched frame and informational signs below, the scene highlights the campaign's aim to challenge traditional gender roles and advocate for shared parental responsibilities.
A modern bronze statue of a reclining figure, with textured skin and an abstract design, is humorously adorned with a light green baby wrap. The wrap, draped around the statue's upper body, transforms the figure into a symbolic participant in caregiving, aligning with Arena Idé's International Men’s Day campaign. Set in a busy urban street surrounded by historic buildings, the installation challenges societal norms and promotes discussion about the unequal distribution of parenting responsibilities in Sweden, emphasizing the importance of shared caregiving roles.

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A bronze statue of a man wearing a beret is fitted with a modern baby carrier holding a doll. The carrier, secured to the figure's chest, contrasts with the statue’s traditional stoic demeanor, symbolizing the caregiving role of fathers. This artistic intervention is part of Arena Idé's International Men’s Day campaign, aiming to spotlight the unequal distribution of parenting responsibilities in Sweden. Set in a park with fallen autumn leaves, trees, and walking paths, the installation invites reflection on the importance of shared parenting in both work and family life.

How do you perceive the use of public art to challenge parenting norms? Can such initiatives drive societal change? We invite you to share your perspectives in the comments below.

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