Governing couple-sexuality: publically funded couples' courses in Norway

Abstract

This paper analyses the construction of Norwegian couples' sexuality through the study of a publically financed and organised relationship course called Living Well Together (Godt Samliv). Established in 2005, this relationship course aimed at first-time parent couples is offered free of charge by municipal health centres. Scrutiny of national policy documents and political debate and of the course handbooks presented to couples, makes visible a particular Norwegian discourse on sexuality, which stresses gender equality and neutrality and ideas of inclusive democratization. New parents are advised to make active efforts to maintain a loving, lasting relationship and sexuality, for the sake of the children. The idea of sex implied by this couples relationship policy is based on what might be described as a 'duty of spontaneity', presented as a work both parents should undertake in order to achieve a stable and healthy relationship. We argue, however, that the inclusive rhetoric of diversity that characterises this public form of Norwegian sexuality has its limitations and that certain forms of intimacy and sexuality are excluded from this discourse.

Universal Parenting Support in Norway – An Unfulfilled Promise

“…Instead, as the further content of Trommald's newspaper article shows, the Directorate, representing the national authority, has turned its focus towards appealing to parents to look for advice and train themselves (Danielsen et al ., 2012), which is a much cheaper way of conducting preventive work, than to provide parenting support courses. The service the Directorate offers to the broad mass of parents who are not in particular need of help is reduced to providing parents with access to the information needed to improve themselves.…”

“…Daly (2015: 599) describes parenting support as ‘a set of (service and other) activities oriented towards improving how parents approach and execute their role as parents and to increasing parents’ child-rearing resources (including information, knowledge, skills, and social support) and competencies.’ In many countries, parenting support has existed as a policy intervention for many decades (Ramaekers and Suissa, 2012), as is the case in Norway (Danielsen et al ., 2012). Structured parenting support programmes 1 , however, are a rather recent phenomenon in the Nordic context (Lundqvist, 2015).…”

“…Firstly, some contributions have focused specifically on the content and normative grounds of parenting support programmes that are currently implemented in Norway (Danielsen and Mühleisen, 2009; Danielsen et al ., 2012; Erstad, 2015). These also discuss how such interventions may affect and modify parents’ understandings and practices regarding their roles as parents (ibid.).…”

Supporting Fathers after Separation and Divorce through Programmatic Intervention - Fortsatt Foreldre in Norway as an Example

“…Fortsatt Foreldre education program, as one such Norwegian policy effort, was designed to offer tools that might help participants to sustain and improve their relationship after separation or divorce, and eventually be beneficial for their children's development (Danielsen, Ludvigsen & Muhleisen 2012).…”

“…The translated and adapted Norwegian PREP program was launched in 1998 in cooperation with original American PREP training and workshops. The program was contextualized in a Scandinavian theoretical framework in 2004 for better compatibility with Scandinavian cultures and traditions (Danielsen et al 2012). …”