Sky News
Updated Mon, 23 October 2023
Iceland's prime minister is expected to join tens of thousands of women in a strike for equal pay on Tuesday, labour unions in the country have said.
Katrín Jakobsdóttir told Icelandic media that she plans to take part in the industrial action, organised under the slogan 'Do you call this equality?', and not come to work.
She told the mbl.is website: "I will not work this day, as I expect all the women [in cabinet] will do as well.
"I have decided not to have a cabinet meeting tomorrow and in Alþingi [Iceland's parliament] only male ministers will answer impromptu questions. We show solidarity in this way."
Organisers said on the campaign's official website: "On 24 October, all women in Iceland, including immigrant women, are encouraged to stop work, both paid and unpaid [including household chores].
"For the whole day, women (and non-binary people) will strike, to demonstrate the importance of their contribution to society."
The strike, which is known as the "Kvennafrí" or "Women's Day Off", hopes to raise awareness about "systemic" pay discrimination and gender-based violence.
Iceland is seen as one of the most progressive in the world in terms of gender equality and has topped the World Economic Forum's gender gap index 14 years in a row.
No nation has achieved full gender equality, according to the index, but Iceland has closed at least 91% of its gap and is the only country to have passed 90%.
However, women in some jobs there earn at least 20% less than their male colleagues, Statistics Iceland has said.
And a study by the University of Iceland found 40% of Icelandic women experience gender-based and sexual violence in their lifetime.
Strike organiser Freyja Steingrímsdóttir, of the Icelandic Federation for Public Workers, said: "We're seeking to bring attention to the fact that we're called an equality paradise, but there are still gender disparities and urgent need for action.
"Female-led professions such as healthcare services and childcare are still undervalued and much lower paid."
Industries where women make up the majority of workers, like healthcare and education, will be especially affected.
The first Women's Day Off took place on 24 October, 1975 , when 90% of Icelandic women stopped work to protest gender inequality and it has been repeated in 1985, 2005, 2010, 2016 and 2018.
Iceland’s Women Strike: A New Flame of Defiance Against Gender Inequality
By Ravichandran Devendran•BNN
Iceland's Women Strike: A New Flame of Defiance Against Gender Inequality
In the land of fire and ice, a new flame of defiance is igniting. Women in Iceland are planning a one-day strike, a show of solidarity against gender inequality that harks back to the historic women’s strike of 1975. Their action, supported by the country’s Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, sends a powerful message that reverberates far beyond the island’s volcanic shores.
The Landscape of Gender Equality in Iceland
The World Economic Forum frequently lauds Iceland as a global pioneer in gender equality. But beneath the surface, fault lines persist. Icelandic women in certain professions earn 21% less than their male counterparts. Over 40% have experienced gender-based or sexual violence. These disparities fuel the fire of discontent that’s culminating in the strike.
The Strike: A Demand for Change
The strike, orchestrated by around 40 organizations, is a demand for change on multiple fronts. The protesters are calling for transparency in wages across female-dominated professions and for robust action against gender-based violence. They’re also advocating for the recognition and proper remuneration of work traditionally associated with women.
Participants range from healthcare workers to educators, financiers to energy sector employees, all planning to halt both paid and unpaid work for the day. The Prime Minister herself, a symbol of the country’s strive for gender equality, will join the protest.
From the Past to the Present: The Echo of 1975
The upcoming strike echoes the historic ‘kvennafrí’ or ‘women’s day off’ in 1975 when 90% of Icelandic women refused to work, cook, or look after their children for a day. That strike led to significant changes, including the election of the world’s first female president.
However, the organizers of the current strike argue that the core demand for valuing women’s work remains unmet almost half a century later. The strike aims to bring societal functions to a standstill, to underscore the vital role women play in maintaining the social fabric.
Equality Paradise: An Unfulfilled Promise?
The strike is a stark reminder that even in ‘equality paradise’ Iceland, gender disparities persist. The 21% wage gap and high incidence of gender-based violence stand in stark contrast to the image of equality the country projects.
But the women of Iceland refuse to be silenced. By laying down their tools, by striking, they are challenging societal norms and expectations. For one day, the smooth running of society will not be their burden to bear.
The women’s strike in Iceland is a powerful testament to the country’s commitment to gender equality. It underscores the ongoing struggle for equal rights and the necessity of continued effort and action. It’s a reminder that even in the world’s most gender-equal country, the journey towards true equality is far from over.
By Ravichandran Devendran•BNN
Iceland's Women Strike: A New Flame of Defiance Against Gender Inequality
In the land of fire and ice, a new flame of defiance is igniting. Women in Iceland are planning a one-day strike, a show of solidarity against gender inequality that harks back to the historic women’s strike of 1975. Their action, supported by the country’s Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, sends a powerful message that reverberates far beyond the island’s volcanic shores.
The Landscape of Gender Equality in Iceland
The World Economic Forum frequently lauds Iceland as a global pioneer in gender equality. But beneath the surface, fault lines persist. Icelandic women in certain professions earn 21% less than their male counterparts. Over 40% have experienced gender-based or sexual violence. These disparities fuel the fire of discontent that’s culminating in the strike.
The Strike: A Demand for Change
The strike, orchestrated by around 40 organizations, is a demand for change on multiple fronts. The protesters are calling for transparency in wages across female-dominated professions and for robust action against gender-based violence. They’re also advocating for the recognition and proper remuneration of work traditionally associated with women.
Participants range from healthcare workers to educators, financiers to energy sector employees, all planning to halt both paid and unpaid work for the day. The Prime Minister herself, a symbol of the country’s strive for gender equality, will join the protest.
From the Past to the Present: The Echo of 1975
The upcoming strike echoes the historic ‘kvennafrí’ or ‘women’s day off’ in 1975 when 90% of Icelandic women refused to work, cook, or look after their children for a day. That strike led to significant changes, including the election of the world’s first female president.
However, the organizers of the current strike argue that the core demand for valuing women’s work remains unmet almost half a century later. The strike aims to bring societal functions to a standstill, to underscore the vital role women play in maintaining the social fabric.
Equality Paradise: An Unfulfilled Promise?
The strike is a stark reminder that even in ‘equality paradise’ Iceland, gender disparities persist. The 21% wage gap and high incidence of gender-based violence stand in stark contrast to the image of equality the country projects.
But the women of Iceland refuse to be silenced. By laying down their tools, by striking, they are challenging societal norms and expectations. For one day, the smooth running of society will not be their burden to bear.
The women’s strike in Iceland is a powerful testament to the country’s commitment to gender equality. It underscores the ongoing struggle for equal rights and the necessity of continued effort and action. It’s a reminder that even in the world’s most gender-equal country, the journey towards true equality is far from over.
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