Sweden prides itself on equality – so why is its political gender gap growing?

Which party Swedes are most likely to back when they go to the polls could depend in part on their gender. Photograph: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images

One is led by Sweden’s first female prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, and has promised smaller school-class sizes, more housing and free dental care for young people. The other, led by Jimmie Åkesson, has neo-Nazi roots and has pledged to lower taxes, improve public safety and treat “anti-Swedishness” as a hate crime.

In the run-up to Sweden’s general election in September, the Social Democrats and the Sweden Democrats are placed first and second respectively in the polls, and between them are expected to scoop up more than 50% of the vote.