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Male gender researcher: We need to talk about Santa Claus' masculinity
Published December 12, 2025, at 12:13 p.m.
For decades, Santa Claus has been an integral part of Christmas celebrations. But now, a male gender researcher is demanding that the red-suited gift-giver also be examined from a gender perspective.
“Is it so obvious that Mrs. Claus cooks the porridge and Santa Claus hands out the presents?” says Jens Rydström
Despite feminism in society, Santa Claus returns every year in the same form, without any major gender debate.
This is remarkable, according to Jens Rydström, professor of gender studies at Lund University.
"Many Swedish parents today are progressive and aware of gender issues. However, this does not seem to have led to our binary Christmas rituals being questioned. We humans kind of enter into, and then exit from, this gender-determined tradition," he says.
Rydström points out that the modern image of Santa Claus has been surprisingly stable since the 19th century, reinforced by literature, illustrations, and later advertising. Santa is portrayed as a good-natured and reassuring father figure, which, according to gender studies, places him in the category of “the benevolent patriarch.”
“Santa Claus as we know him is a stable figure, a good-natured father and head of the family, as long as his power is not challenged,” says Rydström.
According to gender studies scholars, the benevolent patriarch differs from more aggressive male ideals, but is still based on traditional gender roles where power is rarely questioned. According to Rydström, this is accepted because of Santa's close connection to children and family life.
“One reason we tend to turn a blind eye to this is that Santa Claus is the ultimate father figure. His existence is entirely based on children; without children, there would be no Santa Claus.”
In a lecture, Rydström notes that Christmas is often criticized, but regrets that this is rarely done from a gender perspective.
“Christmas is criticized all the time. But it's not about gender, it's about consumerism, gluttony, and class differences. Maybe we should look a little more at gender roles around Christmas too,” he says, continuing:
“I mean, is it so obvious that Mrs. Claus cooks the porridge and Santa Claus hands out the presents?”
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
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