The educational system
Greenland has a literacy rate of 100%. Paradoxically, the level of education in Greenland is reputed to be low compared to other neighboring Nordic countries. However, there has been a marked improvement in recent years. Schooling is free and compulsory from age 6 to 16. The education system is based on the Danish model: there is no distinction between primary and secondary school, but what they call folkeskole (school from age 6 to 15) then gymnasium (high school from age 15 to 18). High schools exist only in the largest towns, such as Aasiaat, Sisimiut, Qaqortoq and Nuuk. Students have to leave home at an early age, supported by the government, which allocates them a monthly budget to live on site (accommodation, shopping, etc.), as well as reimbursing the cost of transport home twice a year (Christmas and summer vacations). Although they soon become independent, the young people may fail at school due to the isolation, but also to the fact that teaching is often in Danish (some of them speak it badly, and there is still a shortage of Greenlanders trained enough to teach). There are around 1,000 teachers for approximately 10,000 students.
As far as higher education is concerned, young people can go on to the University of Nuuk (founded in 1983) for more general subjects (fine arts, business, humanities, etc.) or the more recent specialized schools in Sisimiut (engineering school, Arctic technology center, foreign language school). Higher education courses in journalism, medicine and teaching can also be found in the capital. For other disciplines, you have to go to Denmark, where more than 2,800 Greenlandic students study on scholarships. The University of Aarhus in Denmark is the most popular choice for future Greenlandic executives. There is also a recently opened school for guides and agriculture in the south of the country, as well as a school in Qaqortoq for working in tourism and becoming a guide. There's also the Food College Greenland in Nasard, where you can become a chef and showcase Greenland's delicious cuisine.
Greenlandic customs
In the past, sexuality in the Inuit tradition was not as taboo as it is in the West. Today, a majority of Greenlanders retain some of these traits in their behavior. They seem to be quite free and open-minded, and their first sexual encounters are usually at an early age. There is no organized prostitution in Greenland. In recent decades, the rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis has risen in Greenland, particularly among young people aged between 15 and 29. AIDS is virtually non-existent in Greenland, although the first case of HIV was detected in 2016. For several years, the abortion rate in Greenland has been almost as high - around 900 recorded between 2006 and 2013 - as the birth rate, so unwanted pregnancies remain a major public problem. A recent study called The SexInuk Project calls for more intensive sex education (including knowledge and use of contraception) to change attitudes. In terms of couples, society is more accepting of multiple relationships, and it's not uncommon for girls to take the lead, which may surprise many Europeans. However, once in a relationship, fidelity is generally de rigueur, far from the often fantasized stereotypes of exchanging partners, a bygone Inuit tradition that met various needs (consanguinity, shamanic rites, distance from the hunter accompanied by a woman, collective spirit of "sharing"...). While Greenlanders are slow to marry, they are quick to get engaged.
As far as relationships are concerned, they are rather respectful and shy, even introverted. Conflicts are avoided, a behavior that stems from ancient times when group harmony had to be preserved, by concealing criticism and avoiding direct confrontation. Accounts are often settled peacefully, and the majority of rare aggressions are carried out under the influence of alcohol. It's good manners to listen to what others have to say, and not to cut each other off. Good to know, Greenlanders (especially children) communicate a lot with facial expressions: a raised eyebrow means "yes", while no reaction or frowning means "no". Staring into a man's eyes for too long can be taken as provocative, so beware!
A declining rate of alcoholism
In terms of nightlife, Greenlanders like to party and don't take to alcohol very well, a phenomenon sometimes explained by purely genetic reasons. Many people don't drink because they are aware of the harmful effects of alcohol, and family celebrations are often alcohol-free. In fact, it is forbidden to buy alcohol north of Upernavik and after 6pm in stores throughout the country. The decline in alcoholism, which was more of a festive nature than a daily habit, can be explained by the imposition of a tax on alcohol, as well as a strong awareness-raising campaign carried out in schools over the past few years. There are fewer alcoholics in Greenland than in Denmark or France, you just notice them quicker because of the smallness of the villages or the disinhibiting effect of alcohol. Surprisingly, cannabis use is relatively high in the big cities.
An LGBT+ friendly country
Generally speaking, homosexuality is widely accepted in Greenlandic society. The country made same-sex marriage possible on May 26, 2015, having already allowed civil unions back in 1996. This law also opens up the possibility of adoption for couples from these unions, making Greenland one of the most advanced territories in terms of same-sex marriage rights. It should be noted here that adoption has always been a widespread practice in Greenland, which would seem to explain the scale of this phenomenon. This is also partly explained by the fact that there is more female homosexuality and, consequently, more first-time mothers. Exceptionally, this law was passed without any particular clashes, particularly during the parliamentary debates. It was passed unanimously by theInatsisartut, with 27 votes against 0! What's more, and even more astonishingly, couples can marry in the (Danish Lutheran) church. The law was prepared in close collaboration with Greenland's Lutheran bishop, Sofie Petersen. The fact that the head of the Church of Greenland is a woman is further proof of the country's open-mindedness. Since 2010, a gay pride event has been held in Nuuk every June, with floats, music, projections and other joyful entertainment. The emblematic figure of the movement is Nuka Bisgaard aka Nuuka la diva (stage name), a famous drag queen from Nuuk who starred in the film Eskimo Diva (2015). And let's not forget the young writer Niviaq Korneliussen, revealed in 2014 by her novel Homo Sapienne (translated into French), which tells the story of how five young people seek their way through their sexual freedom, including the lesbian coming-out of the character Fia. Also of note is the Gay Greenland photo project, which aims to give greater visibility to the sometimes stigmatized gay community.
Social structure
Greenland's unemployment rate is 3.7% (2021 estimate). This figure can vary according to season and weather conditions. It can be much higher in winter, for example, in places where fishing is difficult. Although there is no real poverty, the population is nevertheless divided into two distinct parts. On the one hand, the urban dwellers of the capital and larger cities, who are becoming increasingly numerous. On the other, the people who live in the villages. Mentalities and social roles diverge sharply. Despite the rural exodus, city dwellers have not forgotten their roots. Indeed, there is still a strong bond linking all Greenlanders, notably through common family origins, but also through traditions that are shared by all. Greenlandic society is still strongly linked by a network of solidarity inherited from Inuit families who had to unite to survive. The second level of social organization was the gathering of several families into hunting groups. These groups shared goods such as food, know-how and living space, which was always very limited. Today, individualism is overturning all these notions of mutual aid, with the emergence of social differences that may not be as marked as they are here, but they are very much present. Money has become a sought-after commodity, and we're seeing the emergence of greater inequalities.
Social protection
Greenland guarantees a decent standard of living for its entire population. The Scandinavian welfare model has been somewhat transformed. Benefits are more variable than in Denmark, but Greenlanders traditionally rely heavily on their families in the event of unemployment. There is no unemployment benefit in Greenland, and the state pays only a small allowance to those who are really in difficulty. Generally speaking, there are big differences between people's salaries. And often, in small villages, the relatively low income is compensated by hunting and fishing. When a Greenlander goes fishing, he can earn well over DKK 1,000 in a day. Workweeks are 40 hours and paid vacations 5 weeks a year. The local minimum wage is around DKK 100 per hour, or €13.40. Access to healthcare (consultation and medication) is free, and there are no private doctors. Booking an appointment in Nuuk can be a real obstacle course, with patients sometimes waiting months to see a specialist! However, the capital is home to a large hospital with all the necessary departments. And if a patient can't be treated there, a free transfer can be arranged to Copenhagen (or Reykjavík if you're to the east). Every village has at least one nurse or health officer trained in emergency medicine who, if necessary, can arrange evacuation to larger towns. Pharmacies do not exist as we know them; they are found in dispensaries or hospitals.
Gender equality
Inuit society has always placed greater value on boys (the future hunters on whom everyone's survival depended), but these attitudes have been greatly diminished in contemporary Greenlandic society, where women have a strong right to think and act freely, particularly with regard to their sexuality. In the past, girls were taught how to raise children, process hides and sew, which was also essential to the family's survival in winter. The young woman asserted herself in the management of the household. With the arrival of the Danish settlers and access for all to the school system, a change gradually took place. So much so that today, women have a much higher level of education than men, who have long been confined to traditional activities. Thanks also to childcare, women have gradually entered the job market and now account for almost half of all jobs. Even if they mainly occupy positions in the public sector, typically male jobs are gradually opening up to them, particularly in the fishing industry. Some have recently become captains, airplane pilots or professional hunters. Many of them are also setting up businesses, occupying all the shops on Ilulissat's main street! From a political point of view, women were granted the right to vote in 1948, and today they hold a growing number of seats in parliament. The government also included 4 women ministers (out of 9), including the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture, the Minister of Health and the Minister of Family, Culture, Church and Gender Equality. Aleqa Hammond became the symbol of this integration when she was elected Prime Minister in 2013. This positive record is, however, tarnished by a pay disparity with men, few leadership positions, as well as the existence of cases of rape, molestation or incest. After 2018, 12 women hold seats on the Inatsisartut.
Schools are increasingly raising young people's awareness of this violence, which tends to diminish over time. Women generally have their first child relatively early, at around 18-20 years of age, and give birth to around 2 children in the course of their lives. Single mothers can, however, continue their studies if they wish, thanks to family mutual aid and state subsidies. Divorce has been legal since 1955, and more and more couples are separating. Worryingly, researchers at the EDGE (Centre for Equality, Diversity and Gender) at Aalborg University in Denmark have shown that many (educated) women are migrating abroad and not coming back. The main reasons are the cost and quality of life, the lack of housing or nursery places, the mix of families who go to live in Denmark, but also the deficiencies of the education system and the absence of qualified jobs for them.
Family and housing
The notion of family in Greenland is much broader than ours. You'll often find distant cousins, close friends and even adoptees. It's also not uncommon for families to take in elderly people who find themselves on their own. Greenlanders are also very attached to their ancestors. Children often bear the name of a deceased family member. Even today, in the villages, families live very closely together, with a great sense of solidarity. Children are treated with great gentleness and patience; they soon become independent and can play in the street until very late. Reprimanding children is not commonplace, as imitation and experimentation are the best methods of learning. The Inuit considered generosity - which was rewarded - gentleness and kindness to be excellent character traits. However, there is no hiding the fact that a number of families have experienced traumas that have had an impact on their children in the form of neglect, mistreatment or sexual abuse. In 2023, almost one person in two was sexually abused as a child..
A worrying suicide rate
Since the 1970s, Greenland has had worrying suicide rates. In 2013, it had a suicide rate three times that of Denmark, and in 2014 it had one of the highest suicide rates in the world. In 2015, it stood at 82.8 per 100,000 people, compared with 13.4 in the USA (six times higher). Most of the victims were teenagers, more than half of them boys aged 15 to 19. Today, the majority are boys aged between 20 and 24. What's more, according to a study published in March 2015 by the French National Institute of Public Health, nearly 20% of the population has thought about committing suicide. One might assume that the long winter nights facing the country would be the main factor behind the prevailing depression... However, one of the main hypotheses to explain this phenomenon would be the length of exposure to the sun in summer, which has the effect of causing a hormonal imbalance in serotonin production. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood and sleep, and consequently causes anxiety and irritability. Journalist Rebecca Heesher explains that this phenomenon is more likely to be due to a cultural disconnect, comparable to the situation of the native Canadian Attawapiskat Indians, who are also hard hit by this phenomenon.
A strong identity crisis is emerging in these communities, due to the wide gulf between traditional and new cultures. Family ties have weakened, and alcohol and abuse have gradually appeared in homes. Young people feel lost and helpless, cut off from other generations and searching for their own identity. What's more, some researchers report that victims resort to rather violent methods that leave little chance of survival. Faced with this widespread phenomenon, which can rapidly become a chain reaction among young people aged between 15 and 24, Greenland has decided to adopt a national strategic plan for suicide prevention.
