Is life really better in Scandinavian countries?

[Anonymous]

For white natives its better. For immigrants and people who want to climb corporate ladder and work a ton and have a ton of $ it is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have many friends in Scandinavia. I don’t think it’s a perfect place at all. In fact, I’d rather live in other European countries. Scandinavian countries are too homogenous with a lot of pressure to conform. Extremely expensive with high taxation that doesn’t benefit someone who is well educated and employed. There are extreme levels of mortgage debt and both spouses have to work. Pretty much every American couple I know has an easier and better life than their counterparts in Scandinavia. I would not say the same if my friends worked in fast food. If you want to be a ski bum or a non-white collar job then Scandinavian countries are likely better.

Sister lived in Scandinavia for several years and this tracks with what she’s told me. Equality is high - parental leave, etc. but almost no one is a SAHM and it is frowned upon. She found it difficult to make real friends. Some differences are just cultural - even when you went to someone’s house for a meal, you were expected to chip in money. Her social groups rarely went out to eat because it was so expensive. But not worrying about health insurance and prioritizing vacation time go a long way.

[Anonymous]

Swedish people won’t feed your child if s/he is over for a playdate though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worked in a Scandinavian country for many years and the poster who noted the homogeneity of the population is spot on. There is little discussion on how racist and unwelcoming they are to immigrants or non-white people. It’s not even subtle.

People criticize American individualism but most Americans would be shocked to live in a Scandinavian country and be expected to be the same religion (not religious), dress the same, lifestyle the same, food the same, I could go on….you must conform.

I’m so glad to be American and do whatever I want within reason. I can be who I want to be.

Even a month ago someone in Norway was convinced of hate crimes by posting something offensive on the internet. Can you imagine posting something hateful on Facebook and being sent to jail?

Have you ever been to Scandanavia? For example, Sweden is second only to the US in racial diversity with 20 percent non-white inhabitants thanks to generous asylum criteria for refugees. It’s got mosques, synagogues and temples which might give you a clue that not everyone practices the same religion. And it’s got 1 year maternity/paternity leave. I tried to google to see what you were babbling about regarding Norway and being put in jail for putting something on Facebook and couldn’t find it. Why don’t you include a source so we can judge.

My Asian niece married a Swedish man and travels there quite frequently to visit family. She seconds you on the racial diversity and acceptance. They are the country who accepts refugees that certain other Europeans turn away. And by all accounts, Swedish people have great lives.

Half my relatives are in Sweden and this post rings more true than most of the others in this thread. That said, PP is correct about lack of religion, particularly among younger people.

Quality of life there is great. Though I’m personally not a winter person, so after one October/November visit, have only gone in summer since. Those short days are rough, and fika’s not enough to make up for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swedish people won’t feed your child if s/he is over for a playdate though

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/02/world/europe/sweden-feeding-guests-dinner.html

[Anonymous]

Sweden doesn’t seem that great in the Fredrick Blackman books….the Beartown series in particular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worked in a Scandinavian country for many years and the poster who noted the homogeneity of the population is spot on. There is little discussion on how racist and unwelcoming they are to immigrants or non-white people. It’s not even subtle.

People criticize American individualism but most Americans would be shocked to live in a Scandinavian country and be expected to be the same religion (not religious), dress the same, lifestyle the same, food the same, I could go on….you must conform.

I’m so glad to be American and do whatever I want within reason. I can be who I want to be.

Even a month ago someone in Norway was convinced of hate crimes by posting something offensive on the internet. Can you imagine posting something hateful on Facebook and being sent to jail?

Have you ever been to Scandanavia? For example, Sweden is second only to the US in racial diversity with 20 percent non-white inhabitants thanks to generous asylum criteria for refugees. It’s got mosques, synagogues and temples which might give you a clue that not everyone practices the same religion. And it’s got 1 year maternity/paternity leave. I tried to google to see what you were babbling about regarding Norway and being put in jail for putting something on Facebook and couldn’t find it. Why don’t you include a source so we can judge.

Yes. The immigrants in Sweden live a life separate from native Swedes. Unless OP is Muslim and practicing, she would not be a part of this community in Sweden.

[Anonymous]

I think they get many things right that we don’t. The fact that they are so much smaller than the US is helpful in running programs. The US is more comparable to the EU. It isn’t just about racial diversity - it is regional cultural diversity that would make things more difficult in the US. Mississippi’s thinking is different from Massachusetts’ thinking….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have many friends in Scandinavia. I don’t think it’s a perfect place at all. In fact, I’d rather live in other European countries. Scandinavian countries are too homogenous with a lot of pressure to conform. Extremely expensive with high taxation that doesn’t benefit someone who is well educated and employed. There are extreme levels of mortgage debt and both spouses have to work. Pretty much every American couple I know has an easier and better life than their counterparts in Scandinavia. I would not say the same if my friends worked in fast food. If you want to be a ski bum or a non-white collar job then Scandinavian countries are likely better.

Sister lived in Scandinavia for several years and this tracks with what she’s told me. Equality is high - parental leave, etc. but almost no one is a SAHM and it is frowned upon. She found it difficult to make real friends. Some differences are just cultural - even when you went to someone’s house for a meal, you were expected to chip in money. Her social groups rarely went out to eat because it was so expensive. But not worrying about health insurance and prioritizing vacation time go a long way.

This. There seem to be a lot of benefits but I get the impression that none of my friends could stay home because they would be judged. Not in a way we judge on DCUM but judge like what your friends and family would think if you joined jehvoahs witness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have many friends in Scandinavia. I don’t think it’s a perfect place at all. In fact, I’d rather live in other European countries. Scandinavian countries are too homogenous with a lot of pressure to conform. Extremely expensive with high taxation that doesn’t benefit someone who is well educated and employed. There are extreme levels of mortgage debt and both spouses have to work. Pretty much every American couple I know has an easier and better life than their counterparts in Scandinavia. I would not say the same if my friends worked in fast food. If you want to be a ski bum or a non-white collar job then Scandinavian countries are likely better.

Sister lived in Scandinavia for several years and this tracks with what she’s told me. Equality is high - parental leave, etc. but almost no one is a SAHM and it is frowned upon. She found it difficult to make real friends. Some differences are just cultural - even when you went to someone’s house for a meal, you were expected to chip in money. Her social groups rarely went out to eat because it was so expensive. But not worrying about health insurance and prioritizing vacation time go a long way.

This is also common in other Scandinavian countries. You’re expected to bring your own alcohol.

Every couple I know in Scandinavia has separate finances and splits everything like they are roommates. The generous parental leave is necessary because you’re expected to return to work and you’d have $0 during this time if not. There is not as much of a concept of a man taking care of his family. You’re on your own. It can be like this in liberal urban parts of the US, but outside of these areas a married man is expected to provide for his family and not split the mortgage with his wife. One of my friends in Sweden couldn’t even understand how I could stay home with kids and what I would do for money. Would I get an allowance? She was floored we have joint finances and didn’t believe me that we share money like it belongs to both of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worked in a Scandinavian country for many years and the poster who noted the homogeneity of the population is spot on. There is little discussion on how racist and unwelcoming they are to immigrants or non-white people. It’s not even subtle.

People criticize American individualism but most Americans would be shocked to live in a Scandinavian country and be expected to be the same religion (not religious), dress the same, lifestyle the same, food the same, I could go on….you must conform.

I’m so glad to be American and do whatever I want within reason. I can be who I want to be.

Even a month ago someone in Norway was convinced of hate crimes by posting something offensive on the internet. Can you imagine posting something hateful on Facebook and being sent to jail?

Have you ever been to Scandanavia? For example, Sweden is second only to the US in racial diversity with 20 percent non-white inhabitants thanks to generous asylum criteria for refugees. It’s got mosques, synagogues and temples which might give you a clue that not everyone practices the same religion. And it’s got 1 year maternity/paternity leave. I tried to google to see what you were babbling about regarding Norway and being put in jail for putting something on Facebook and couldn’t find it. Why don’t you include a source so we can judge.

Yes. The immigrants in Sweden live a life separate from native Swedes. Unless OP is Muslim and practicing, she would not be a part of this community in Sweden.

Their kids are. Get out of here. It takes a generation or two, because the they entered a culture very different from their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worked in a Scandinavian country for many years and the poster who noted the homogeneity of the population is spot on. There is little discussion on how racist and unwelcoming they are to immigrants or non-white people. It’s not even subtle.

People criticize American individualism but most Americans would be shocked to live in a Scandinavian country and be expected to be the same religion (not religious), dress the same, lifestyle the same, food the same, I could go on….you must conform.

I’m so glad to be American and do whatever I want within reason. I can be who I want to be.

Even a month ago someone in Norway was convinced of hate crimes by posting something offensive on the internet. Can you imagine posting something hateful on Facebook and being sent to jail?

Have you ever been to Scandanavia? For example, Sweden is second only to the US in racial diversity with 20 percent non-white inhabitants thanks to generous asylum criteria for refugees. It’s got mosques, synagogues and temples which might give you a clue that not everyone practices the same religion. And it’s got 1 year maternity/paternity leave. I tried to google to see what you were babbling about regarding Norway and being put in jail for putting something on Facebook and couldn’t find it. Why don’t you include a source so we can judge.

Yes. The immigrants in Sweden live a life separate from native Swedes. Unless OP is Muslim and practicing, she would not be a part of this community in Sweden.

What are you talking about? Yes there are cultural distinctions but there’s a high level of intermarriage in Sweden. It’s hardly the South in the 1950s with legislated barriers to mixing. And while this is just an anecdote, my hijab wearing diplomatic community neighbor has said she found Copenhagen easier to live in from a a cultural perspective than Washington DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it is not. Just traveled through several of these countries, quite the disappointment.

Typical American response.

From a Swede - My sister in law has basically been on maternity leave for 8 years, because she keeps having kids. Healthcare, dat care, subsidized post secondary school, you name it. I wish my husbands job existed in Stockholm because life is so much better in Scandinavia.

Ps. In Norway things are so good, even the cows have a good life. There is a law you need to provide a thin mattress for them to sleep!

[Anonymous]

It's all about what you prefer. Less staff but more piece of mind and security, go to Scandinavia. Here I'm still struggling to pay off student loans and I took out so few. I had to work around my husband's schedule because we couldn't afford daycare. Constantly worrying about breaking a bone or getting sick. No doctor accepts my dental insurance and 1-2 take my health insurance.
Even nearby Baltics have a decent life. Nobody I know works over 40 hours, schools and retraining are widely available, very generous parental leave, free daycare and schooling.
People in that region travel a lot. My friend just flew to Barcelona for $80. Looking forward to summer and travel in the winter, really helps with the cold climate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worked in a Scandinavian country for many years and the poster who noted the homogeneity of the population is spot on. There is little discussion on how racist and unwelcoming they are to immigrants or non-white people. It’s not even subtle.

People criticize American individualism but most Americans would be shocked to live in a Scandinavian country and be expected to be the same religion (not religious), dress the same, lifestyle the same, food the same, I could go on….you must conform.

I’m so glad to be American and do whatever I want within reason. I can be who I want to be.

Even a month ago someone in Norway was convinced of hate crimes by posting something offensive on the internet. Can you imagine posting something hateful on Facebook and being sent to jail?

Have you ever been to Scandanavia? For example, Sweden is second only to the US in racial diversity with 20 percent non-white inhabitants thanks to generous asylum criteria for refugees. It’s got mosques, synagogues and temples which might give you a clue that not everyone practices the same religion. And it’s got 1 year maternity/paternity leave. I tried to google to see what you were babbling about regarding Norway and being put in jail for putting something on Facebook and couldn’t find it. Why don’t you include a source so we can judge.

Yes. The immigrants in Sweden live a life separate from native Swedes. Unless OP is Muslim and practicing, she would not be a part of this community in Sweden.

What are you talking about? Yes there are cultural distinctions but there’s a high level of intermarriage in Sweden. It’s hardly the South in the 1950s with legislated barriers to mixing. And while this is just an anecdote, my hijab wearing diplomatic community neighbor has said she found Copenhagen easier to live in from a a cultural perspective than Washington DC.

DC is obviously not perfect, but Denmark has a serious problem with racism against Muslims. And it’s growing. There are reports written about this by the European Council, so you don’t need anecdotes.