medborger_i_danmark_engelsk.pdf - Ny i Danmark

Family and society49Equal rights and jointresponsibilityDanish society is built on respect for theindividual and responsibility for thecommon good, both at family andcommunity level.This means that men and women shareequal rights and duties and have equalopportunities for taking part in politicaland economic life.It further implies that the individualcitizens and families share with society theresponsibility for ensuring that childrenand young people have a good childhoodand adolescence and get an education.In cooperation with families andindividual citizens, society fulfils a numberof tasks aimed at helping those who find itdifficult to manage daily living on theirown.Coping with a busy lifeWork occupies a great deal of the family’stime. In most families, both man and wifehave a job and work almost an equal numberof hours per week.In particular, parents with young childrenspend much time on work and education.This means less time for the family and, forexample, for caring for seriously ill familymembers.This is one of the reasons that families inDenmark leave it to the public authorities tosolve some of these tasks.Thus, citizensunable to take care of themselves because ofdisability, illness or age may, for example,visit a day centre or live in a residential-carefacility.FAMILYMost young children are looked after in aday-care institution or in private day care.More than 90% of children in the 3-5-yearage group are in some form of day care awayfrom home. Many school-age childrenparticipate in an after-school care scheme orattend an after-school recreation centre.See page 73.Today, very few Danish women stay at home.Nevertheless, women still do most of thehousework. However, a more equal sharing ofdomestic chores is becoming more common,especially in families with small childrenwhere the mother is relatively young, highlyeducated and employed.