The Law of Jante, or the Jantelag, is locally known as the 'famous Swedish Jealousy', describing the envy of anyone who breaks the Law of Jante, does well and pays no heed to the collective. In http://residensportalen.blogspot.se/2012/05/lagom-swedish-mentality.html I touched on this phenomenon.
In America, for example, people truly applaud and enjoy other people's success. In Sweden, you almost have to preface sharing your success with an apology. You may be perceived as arrogant if you toot your own horn, in other countries the same person will be perceived as a "go-getter". On the flip side, it may be easier to be perceived as a super star, albeit arrogant, in Sweden because such a small percentage of the population is comfortable selling themselves.
If you send your child to private school or even worse, an expensive boarding school, you do not share that with everyone. Private health care insurance is also frowned upon. Why should anyone access better care or schools due to their financial standing? The informal mantra of the opposing parties of the Socialist party was "the socialists wants everyone to have it equally bad".
However, the past five years has changed The Law of Jante. The socialists have not been in power, media has much international influence and more Swedes are gaining an international perspective by going abroad as expats. Swedes have become more comfortable with selling themselves. More of us have started to view our person as a brand through Facebook, Twitter and blogging. Digital media may slowly erase the Swedish jealousy. What encounters have you had with the "Swedish jealousy"?
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