Young Swedish Women Embrace "Soft Girl" Trend: A Shift from Work to Leisure

A growing number of young Swedish women are opting to become "soft girls," abandoning careers for a lifestyle focused on leisure and femininity. This trend, which reflects a reaction to high workplace demands and societal expectations, raises questions about gender equality and personal agency in modern Sweden.

In recent years, a rising trend among young Swedish women has emerged that sees them leaving the workforce to embrace a lifestyle dubbed the “soft girl” aesthetic. This movement, celebrated on social media platforms, highlights a return to traditional feminine roles rather than the modern "girl boss" ideal.

One vocal supporter of this lifestyle is 25-year-old Vilma Larsson, who left her jobs in retail and caregiving to become a stay-at-home girlfriend. “My life is softer. I am not struggling. I am not very stressed,” shares Larsson. Her partner supports her financially as she spends her days exercising, cooking, and traveling. Despite gaining fame on social media with thousands of followers, she remains unapologetically about her choice to phase out of traditional employment.

The “soft girl” trend, which gained traction in Sweden over the last year after being highlighted in the Ungdomsbarometern survey, has sparked numerous discussions in the country where dual-income households have been the norm for decades. While no formal statistics track those fully committing to this lifestyle, cultural observations indicate it’s increasingly popular among younger demographics, with 14% of younger girls aspiring to this lifestyle.

Johanna Göransson, a researcher for Ungdomsbarometern, notes this movement represents a desire to escape the pressures associated with relentless career success. Many young women have witnessed older generations struggling to balance work and home life, prompting a reconsideration of what fulfillment looks like in their lives.

However, the trend is not without controversy. Figures like Gudrun Schyman, a prominent feminist voice in Sweden, criticize this choice as regressive and harmful to long-fought gender equality gains. Schyman argues that many young women lack an understanding of the historical struggles women faced for work rights and independence.

On the flip side, the Sweden Democrats party regards the soft girl movement positively, framing it as a personal choice reflecting freedom. The conversation surrounding the soft girl trend reveals deeper issues, particularly the ongoing structural inequalities still faced by women in Sweden, where they continue to bear a disproportionate share of domestic chores and responsibilities.

As research shows an increase in stress levels among youth, this trend also bears some resemblance to global movements like “quiet quitting,” where individuals proactively seek a more balanced work-life equation. The inclination towards a leisurely lifestyle, often portrayed on social media, begs the question of whether the comforts of traditional roles can coexist with the long-standing pursuit of gender equality.

Economists and gender advocates caution that while living off a partner may seem appealing, it could impede financial independence, impacting savings and retirement plans. The discussions swirling around the soft girl trend serve as a vital wake-up call, hinting at larger mental health concerns impacting today’s youth, and the necessity for ongoing adjustments in societal structures to foster equality and support.