Interview 03.10.11 13:49

Skrevet av Lindis Sloan

1)  What is KUN, how, why and when it came into existence?
KUN is a practice- and research-based institution working with gender equality in a rural setting in Steigen in Nordland county in Norway. We have headquarters in an area of outstanding natural beauty, well north of the Arctic Circle. In 1991, two pioneer women came up with the idea of creating a "feminist university" foundation to provide jobs for women with higher education, education and gender equality input to the community. They managed to get support and funding from local and regional government, and before you know it we have been in business for 20 years, employing 17 people and working locally, regionally, nationally and internationally!

2)  What type of gender-related activism and gender-related activities does KUN 
undertake?
KUN staff work on projects ranging from gender equality awareness programs for kindergarten staff to training for the Viet Nam ministry dealing with gender equality.

3)  Where does KUN operate (whole Norway, other parts of the world, particular regions of
Norway)?
Internationally we have worked on all continents except the Antarctic, nationally we work with government on a national and local level and with whomever expresses and interest in what we can provide. For years now we have run the "regional centre for gender equality and plurality", functioning as a liaison between central government and the local level, aiding the implementation of GE legislation and regulations. We are responsible for the 5 northernmost counties of Norway, from Trondheim in the south to the Barents sea and the Russian border.

4)  Where does the funding of KUN come from? Is it easy for such organizations like yours
to obtain funding in Norway?
Easy, no. We have about 25% of our budget over the national budget from the Ministry of children, equality and social inclusion, but the remainder we have to make up from project income. Since we operate in an area that borders on public service and the government, many seem to think we should provide our services for free! Unfortunately, that is not really a viable way to do business...

5)  If you were to assess the gender situation in Norway, what are the main achievements
in this area and what still remain the main challenges (to be overcome)?
The main challenge in Norway is probably the conviction many seem to have that we have achieved gender equality already, that men and women have exactly the same opportunities and that should there be any lingering gendered differences they result from free choice and biology, nothing to do with society structures. However, women in Norway still make about 80% of the wages of men in comparable jobs, we have a very gendered labour market with women dominating health services, public administration and education. There are also marked differences between men and women as regards health, childcare, violence, migration patterns etc. But it is important to underline that in many areas it is men and men's situation that could be improved - gender equality is not about women but about people.