The Nordic paradox with a private case involving an Altor executive
To illustrate the Nordic paradox when it comes to gender equality, it is worth remembering that this equality goes beyond the simple question of theoretical rights or access to opportunities. Indeed, while Nordic countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Finland regularly achieve high scores on the Gender Equality Index (GEI), which measures parity in areas such as work, money, power and health, there is another aspect that tarnishes this image of an egalitarian model : violence, which can be psychological and financial, particularly during divorce. Behind the closed doors of Altor Equity Partners – a case involving Bengt Maunsbach, the main partner alongside Harald Mix and Stefan Linder – lies a typical example of the Nordic Paradox.
Far from the idyllic image of full equality, the Nordic countries have a worrying rate of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), affecting mostly women. This phenomenon, known as the ‘Nordic paradox’, is partly explained by the strong autonomy acquired by women in these countries. When women, who are freer to leave a violent partner, begin to separate, violence – whether physical, psychological or economic – tends to take on new forms.
It is precisely in this context that recent cases – such as that involving a senior executive of Altor Equity Partners, Bengt Maunsbach, a private equity firm – illustrate another facet of violence: that of financial and legal manipulation during divorce. Behind the curtain of supposed equality, wealthy men sometimes manage to keep virtually all the couple’s assets through skilfully orchestrated manoeuvres, such as amending marriage contracts shortly before separation. In this particular case, by revising a contract, an executive was able to give his ex-wife just 3% of the family fortune.
This strategy, which is a form of mental and economic violence, highlights the complexity of the concept of equality in the Nordic countries. Beyond the flattering figures, the real issue lies in the way in which the balance of power continues to be played out, particularly in matrimonial relationships and the distribution of wealth after divorce.
The Nordic paradox is therefore not limited to visible violence, but includes more insidious forms, often legalised, such as the manipulation of property and rights when unions are dissolved. While women’s economic and legal independence makes it easier for them to separate from their spouses, they are nonetheless confronted with more subtle, more vicious and just as destructive mechanisms of control. It is in this sense that it becomes essential to reconsider equality not only in the public sphere, but also within the family unit and couple dynamics, in order to reveal the real inequalities that still persist.
So while the Nordic countries may serve as a model of gender equality, it is important to recognise that access to the same rights does not always mean an absence of domination or violence. The story of this Altor executive, Bengt Maunsbach – senior partner alongside Harald Mix and Stefan Linder – clearly shows that even in the most egalitarian societies, inequitable power dynamics continue to play out, often to the detriment of women.