Love across borders. Construction of gender equality and Norwegianness in Russian-Norwegian families

More than 12 percent of the Norwegian population has immigration background, and immigrants play important parts in changing the Norwegian society from a seemingly homogenous to an evidently heterogeneous society. The Norwegian diversity policy was developed to encounter the challenges this represents. The goal of the policy is to create a society taking into account the individual’s right to be different, think differently than the majority and be able to freely choose their own way of life. It should establish a new national self-understanding, compatible with the composition of the population, and with an acceptance of the fact that there are several ways to be Norwegian. The White Paper on Diversity Politics (St.meld. nr. 49 (2003-2004)) acknowledges the differences in the population through a grounded positive attitude towards diversity in culture, religion and values. The goal is to establish an inclusive understanding of what it is to be Norwegian, where diversity rather than similarity lays the grounds for what is the norm and what is desired. Principally, foreign-born people in Norway would, therefore, play a central role in the development of what it is to be Norwegian, but is it really opened up for this? When, at the same time, the significance of securing respect for the basic values in society is underscored, this is an indication that not all forms of diversity can be accepted. Gender equality is especially highlighted as a grounding value in the Norwegian society which cannot be compromised. The question, therefore, becomes which influence Norwegian ideals about equality between women and men have on the immigrants’ establishment of their Norwegianness, and what being Norwegian means to them. This is the central topic of this chapter.