It was two hundred years ago in Denmark and there was someone who said – let it be so that compulsory education is for both men and women. Then hundred years later there was someone who said – let women have the right to vote and run for office alongside men. Another hundred years went by. And someone said – what? Feminism in Denmark? Why on Earth? Well… Let me tell you a story about a group of international women in Copenhagen.
As all good things start, it was a Facebook post on the group Expats in Copenhagen that brought us together in January 2023. Few topics are as controversial as feminism and those who end up seeking answers within it are reflective, passionate, and supportive. And that’s exactly what we ended up with. Currently, our core team consists of seven remarkable women with different nationalities, each with their own unique passion and feminist perspective. But besides that, what unites us the most is something that a lot of internationals share – the willingness to be here and contribute to the community. We embrace the wind and the rain, the never-ending winter and the ridiculously complicated viking-sounding language. But still – Denmark has a unique place in our hearts and minds; obviously the longer you spend in a place, the more deeply rooted your life there becomes. And at the same time the understanding of the Danish social landscape improves and with it comes considerations and concerns locals might not be aware of.
International women in Denmark often face a lack of support due to a combination of cultural, linguistic, and systemic barriers. But not only international women are at risk. Women in Denmark, women globally are still underrepresented in leadership positions, still earning less, still more at risk of poverty, health issues, and it is no secret that they are even more vulnerable in the international community. Maybe it takes a united front – international perspective in the local context to turn things for the better. Therefore, we have formed an association under the name of Copenhagen Feminist Forum to take an active part in shaping the world we live in and be part of the solution. We believe an international feminist group can offer support by providing insights, strategies, and even more importantly – solidarity.
So, what are we doing? Starting small – right now we are organizing monthly discussions about every-day challenges. About workplace, relationships, legal or health issues – few people can have the privilege to trust the system but as an international you can end up from the outside looking in and not knowing the shortcuts and options you learn only in the long run. But besides all that, I feel like I still need to emphasize a couple of remarks I get when sharing about this group. Like my colleague saying – but I don’t want to think of myself as a woman when I come to work – I just think of myself as an employee. And believe me, I get it. It’s exhausting to think about being on guard all day, every day. But that’s not the purpose of this group – there is no use taking the stereotypical stances people often put feminists in. Nevertheless, feminist ideas need to live on. For example, in the countries that are developed at the level Denmark is, most people (or at least what I believe) are not deliberately thinking: “I will promote less women because I can do so.” Then how come these inequalities still persist, especially in the upper levels of management? The answer must be the lack of information and awareness. And the only way to overcome it, is to come together.
To summarize, I just want to say this. You don’t have to call yourself a feminist. You don’t even have to like feminism. But if anything in this extremely short synopsis of feminism relevance in Denmark I have said has sparked your curiosity or you would like to discuss it, Copenhagen Feminist Forum is the place for you. Maybe you are just as puzzled as I am by the fact that women’s issues are constantly being filed under the same umbrella as minorities despite being half of the population. If there is no need to convince you about the significance of feminism, you can come and find support here and fact-based information to share within your community when you feel like someone leans toward – it’s good enough as it is. Basically, if you believe that we can do better – please come and talk with us. We need your voice.