4 ms·
Well, that's easy. People are not globally aware enough to seperate Norway, Denmark and Sweden into seperate societies. So it's easy to confuse/combine the Dan
by dijit 2y ago
Well, that's easy.
People are not globally aware enough to seperate Norway, Denmark and Sweden into seperate societies. So it's easy to confuse/combine the Danish "Hygge" (meaning: Cozy), Norways wealth, and Swedens generous social systems (especially as they relate to summer vacations and parental leave/rights).
As such, Scandinavia (where Sweden is for some reason the most popular stand-in name for Scandinavia - probably because it used to dominate the region) is seen as a mythical place where everyone is happy, wealthy and that the lifestyles are cozy.
Yes, there's some marketing in that, just like there's marketing in the idea that the US is free when it's ranks pretty poorly in freedom globally, or that the UK is a world power, when in reality it's about as globally important at this point as South Korea or South Africa (which, is not an insult as they are medium powers on the world stage and not insignificant).
Remember, companies operating globally from any given country will lean in to what they think that country is known for. You can see it a lot with "Swiss-Made" products, especially privacy products, when in reality there aren't any decent privacy laws in Switzerland- people just remember the banking sector permitting numbered accounts because they saw it in media. -- so these things get reinforced over time, by products marketing themselves as "Scandinavian" and then presenting a lifestyle in advertising.
- fredrikholm 2y ago> is seen as a mythical place where everyone is happy, wealthy and that the lifestyles are cozy If you're a (non-wealthy) student from the US, it's easy to see how you'd get that impression based on what its like to be that person in both countries. In Sweden, you study full time, live decently and optionally have one job that you do spare time to reduce your future debt that most likely won't be a problem given that it's a (compared the US) small amount of money and you're able to pay it back relatively easily. What I've heard from a total of 3 students from different parts of that states are some variation of: "Outside of my (full time) studies I juggle 2-3 part time jobs, barely making rent and the mountain of debt that awaits me is giving me crippling anxiety". Of course living here is not without its struggles. We, just like the rest of the world, struggle with insane housing costs, stagnant wages for working class people, our food prices are several times higher than in the US despite us making way less etc.
- Hikikomori 2y agoNot only is the amount of debt you have much lower the interest rate is typically lower than inflation, so its much easier to pay off, many don't even make extra payments as its not worth it. None in my class worked while studying, I only took the extra loan part for 1 year as I had savings (if you study you get a grant and the loan is optional if needed). And didn't have to worry about debt from medical problems either.
- lifestyleguru 2y agoFunny because even Scandinavians don't want to live in Scandinavia. They live mostly in Caribbean, Canaries, and Balearic Islands. The only people permanently living in Scandinavia are working and not working poor.
- anthk 2y agoSpaniard here. If that was true, I would hear more about it. And the truth it's the Southern Spain and the islands are full of Brits and Germans.
- lifestyleguru 2y agoWhen drunk, they all speak the same indistinguishable mumble.
- walthamstow 2y agoUK and DE are much bigger countries. Denmark has half the population of London. Per capita there are a lot of Nordics in southern Spain and Canarias.
- RamRodification 2y agoYou are confusing "want to live in" with "want to vacation in". If there's one thing I and other Scandinavians always seem to agree on, it's that Scandinavia sucks less for just living your everyday life in, compared to most other countries. Especially true with typical vacation destinations such as the ones in your examples.
- willvarfar 2y agoAlthough its amusing to see how Sweden is idealised in the UK and USA, and how there seems to be some BBC correspondant who feels obliged to keep churning out these lifestyle articles that nobody in Sweden would recognise, this doesn't mean its not actually a nicer place to live than the US or UK! :)
- TypingOutBugs 2y agoHaving lived in the US, UK, and Sweden, I prefer Sweden for everything except my friend group!