Shared barracks for men and women have become a regular part of conscript service in Finland, following a successful trial between 2020 and 2023. Since then, mixed-gender rooms have been available to all interested conscripts across the country's garrisons.
According to Hannu Maijanen, Chief of Social Affairs at the Defence Command, the policy has become an established practice with little negative feedback.
"Conscripts report that mixed rooms have a calmer atmosphere, which supports rest and recovery," Maijanen wrote in an email to Yle. "They also feel the 'men versus women' mindset has diminished or disappeared entirely. It's also made it easier for conscript leaders to bond with their squads."
Men in Finland have a legal obligation to complete either military or civilian service, while women have the option to volunteer for the military. In each arrival cohort, around four to six percent of new recruits are female volunteers.
"Nobody really cares who's changing"
Two corporals serving in the Jaeger Brigade in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland had nothing negative to say about the experience.
"I haven't felt awkward or that it's been a problem," said Aada-Linnea Häkkinen. "Toilets and showers are separate for men and women, and you can choose how you want to change clothes — either in front of others or in the bathroom."
Häkkinen said she changes in the room and has never felt uncomfortable.
"Even though we're in mixed rooms, nobody really cares who's changing clothes. We're one group, and everyone here is the same."
She hasn't heard any complaints from others either.
"We haven't had any problems here. We're really included in everything, and there's been no issue with the mixed rooms," Häkkinen said, adding that if problems did arise, she wouldn't hesitate to bring them up.
"I feel you can speak up here if something's wrong. I've never felt like I couldn't say something. Issues are addressed and handled constructively."
"You don't always have to just be with the guys"
Veeti Myllyneva, another corporal in Rovaniemi, also views the arrangement positively. While he didn't specifically request a shared room, he indicated he was fine with it when asked.
"It's felt like normal life. I haven't thought about it as having women in the room, just fellow soldiers."
According to Myllyneva, sharing a room with women hasn't required any particular change in behaviour.
"At least for me, I haven't needed to watch myself more than I would with just guys. I've just lived normally."
He recommended the experience to others.
"It's a different kind of experience when you meet different kinds of people. You don't always have to be in a room full of just guys — you get a bit of perspective that way."
Mixed-gender accommodation is not mandatory. A small number of conscripts still prefer single-gender rooms, Maijanen said.
However, service members of all genders are routinely housed together on navy vessels and in tents while on exercises in the field.
