DIFFERENT PEOPLE DIFFERENT COULTURE

Finns have a reputation for reticence, thoughtfulness and unemotional behavior. They are quiet, reflective, somber and, for some, seemingly stubborn and standoffish. They are unwilling to speak unless they have something of importance to say. There is a saying that when a Finn says something, they really mean it.

This aloofness is not a reflection of authoritarianism or hierarchy; as with their Nordic cousins, Finns believe in egalitarian, flat organizations. While national bureaucracies may be complex, they are not hierarchical. Finnish society is not overly formal; rather, it is relatively relaxed, whether at home, work or the sauna.

In this very egalitarian culture, both women and men participate almost equally in all societal roles. Men and women share responsibility for family, work and government.