Norway and Sweden have been depicted as women friendly states (Hernes, 1987), having similar welfare state regimes (Sainsbury, 1999). However, a gender analysis of recent developments in the field of industrial policy has revealed interesting differences (Pettersson, 2012; forthcoming). Both countries have recently developed and strengthened the gender approach in policies supporting women entrepreneurs, through integrative ambitions. But whereas Norway has focused on control through quota-like quantitative equality objectives for the funds distribution, Sweden has used softer instruments like gender analyzes and education, and refrained from quantitative measures for the distribution of funds. Why is this? In this paper we seek an answer by broadening the analysis to include industrial and rural policies more generally. We consider several interrelated layers of material – not only industrial policies, but also welfare policies, social benefit policies, or gender equality legislation – in order to explore and seek to explain how the different approaches to support gender equality and/or women’s entrepreneurship (including innovation, rural and regional development) have come about.
Through a genealogical approach we study differences in formulations of gender equality or on women in policies on national, regional or rural development, innovation, entrepreneurship and business development (in general). We also study differences in outcome regarding sector supported and distribution of financial support. The study contributes to a nuanced analysis of the development of state feminism in Norway and Sweden since the 1970s.
