Thanks to Michael R for the link to this example of wonderfully wayward feminist politics in Norway.

The new coalition government in Oslo said it was considering introducing a law which would require 40% of boardroom posts to be filled by women.  Norway’s previous government drew up the law, which it threatened to apply if companies failed voluntarily to meet minimum quotas by 1 July this year.  Only a fifth of Norway’s 590 publicly listed firms comply with the quotas.

“It’s not going fast enough,” said Karita Bekkemellem, Norway’s minister for family and children.  “I don’t want to wait 20 or 30 years until sufficiently intelligent men finally appoint women to the boardrooms.”  She added: “I wish to establish, from January 1 2006, a system of sanctions which makes it possible to break up companies.”

... a spokeswoman for Ms Bekkemellem said introducing the law could be the only way to of ensuring equality in the boardroom.  “It is a question of power,” the spokeswoman said, insisting that several surveys had found that companies where both sexes were strongly represented on the board were more profitable.  “For a woman to get in a man must get out.  It is not difficult to find qualified women.”

Particularly mysterious and intriguing is the government office of Minister for Family and Children which Karita Bekkemellem apparently holds.  Through some Scandinavian absurdity it is possible for a politician both to tend to the interests and welfare of young Norwegians and their family life AND to advocate a step that can only harm said young Norwegians ... and their family life.

Now, I confess that this might be a peculiarly Anglo-Saxon point of view.  I understand that a certain clannishness afflicts the psyche of all peoples whose breath freezes in summertime.  A shortage of the old sunshine vitamin makes you do some extremely wierd things.  Forget Mums and Dads, for example.  Petty tyrants only interested in boardroom intrigue.  The local council has the interests of young Kvist and Katla closer to its heart.  It can love them just as much and set them f-r-e-e.  Ah, isn’t that nice.  Socialism is just so darned nice.

It’s the same with the economic health of the country.  I mean, if a female minister can suppose that more women in the workplace is conducive to a happy and healthy Norwegian childhood, obviously she will have a flawless instinct for good economics too.  Government interference in the affairs of private companies can only be a “good thing”.  Better management and bigger profits are just bound to happen.  Aren’t they?

But, of course, all fanatical feminists have brilliant economic records.  Feminists are just so brilliant.  Brilliant mothers.  Brilliant politicians.  Brilliant and awfully empathic, sensitive company directors.

Just don’t ask them to cook, I suppose, or all hell could break loose.