Providing Informal Care in Sweden is Not Just a Women’s Issue

This study examines existing Swedish population data to investigate the evolving role of men in providing informal care for older adults, challenging the persistent stereotype of men’s limited participation. Our findings consistently show that men in Sweden are active and significant participants in a wide range of caregiving tasks. This involvement is profoundly shaped by the Swedish welfare state and cultural emphasis on gender equality, rather than solely by individual caring masculinities. We argue that the high involvement of Swedish men is a normatively supported outcome of a specific welfare structure. By critically questioning frameworks like caring masculinities and feminist ethics of care, which can inadvertently exclude men’s perspectives, we call for a re-evaluation of how male caregiving is theorized and measured globally. Recognizing these gendered patterns within their societal context is crucial for developing inclusive and equitable policies that support all caregivers.