The Finnish Baby Box is a box of clothes, toys and other baby accessories available to all mothers in Finland.
- Contents of the Baby Box in 2014
- This BBC article details it's history and effectiveness
- Short Anecdote
So, the Finnish Baby Box is probably the most incredibly pragmatic piece of public programming in the history. One of the underlying messages of what we've been discussing is the myriad ways that the actions of the state can inadvertently or deliberately "Other" various groups. The Finnish Baby Box is an innovative step in promoting cohesion instead of differentiation. Specifically, the availability of the box to all mothers, regardless of economic situation, and the gender neutral nature of the clothes themselves help to promote a message of unification.
Not to imply that the Baby Box single-handedly ends gender issues, racism and classism, but I think it's a (super good) place to start; it sends the message that boys and girls, rich and poor, are equal at the jump. If we're operating with that mindset (rather than the typical Other-ing line of reasoning which goes something like "That person is different from me and there's a reason for that and I don't like it") how much easier is it to resonate with ideas like gender mainstreaming or issues of privilege?
If that person is the same as you, why do you interact with social and political structures in such vastly different ways?
(Go Finland.)
Not to imply that the Baby Box single-handedly ends gender issues, racism and classism, but I think it's a (super good) place to start; it sends the message that boys and girls, rich and poor, are equal at the jump. If we're operating with that mindset (rather than the typical Other-ing line of reasoning which goes something like "That person is different from me and there's a reason for that and I don't like it") how much easier is it to resonate with ideas like gender mainstreaming or issues of privilege?
If that person is the same as you, why do you interact with social and political structures in such vastly different ways?
(Go Finland.)
I was going to question the accessibility of the box based on income since the article states that expectant mothers must see a doctor within the first four months of pregnancy to qualify. But I just checked and Finland has universal healthcare, so income should not be an issue in that sense.
ReplyDeleteBut overall, this seems like a great program that takes a lot of pressure off of mothers and their families in addition to giving that sense of equal beginnings. I bet it would negatively be considered as 'welfare' (which by definition implies really nice things, go figure) in the United States. The only programs I've heard of here that offer free material goods to expectant (low income) mothers are run by churches.
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