Tasaperhettä

Tasaperhettä is a Finnish term used in sociology and public discourse to describe an egalitarian family arrangement in which both partners share responsibilities and resources more evenly than in traditional gendered models. The concept highlights balanced participation in childcare, domestic work, income generation, and decision-making.

Typical features associated with tasaperhettä include a deliberate and negotiated division of labor based on mutual agreement and personal strengths rather than gender norms; shared or alternating parenting duties; flexible work arrangements and joint financial planning; and collaborative governance of household life. The term is not a strict legal category but an descriptive ideal used to discuss family dynamics and gender equality.

In practice, tasaperhettä can appear in two-parent households with dual earners, including same-sex couples, where tasks and privileges are arranged equitably. It also features in policy discussions about parental leave, work-time arrangements, and work-life balance, with the aim of reducing gender gaps in pay and career progression. Challenges to achieving tasaperhettä include structural barriers such as workplace cultures, unequal pay, and persistent social expectations, as well as the ongoing negotiation required within couples.

See also: gender equality, family policy, parental leave, work-life balance.