Published 20:16 IST, October 26th 2023
Is equality paradise still far from equal? Iceland PM joins women demanding end to gender pay gap
Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdóttir's participation raised questions about the government's role in addressing gender disparities.
Advertisement
In a powerful demonstration, Icelandic women, residing in what's hailed as world's most gender-equal country, embarked on a one-day strike on October 24. Led by tre unions, strike aimed to protest gender discrimination and was notably supported by Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdóttir.
impact reverberated across public transport, hospitals, and hotels, illustrating scope of strike and all-male news teams announced widespre shutdown. Tre unions, organising strike, called on women and nonbinary individuals to reject both paid and unpaid work, garnering substantial support from nation's 90% union-affiliated workforce.
Advertisement
Despite being recognised as a gender-equal parise for 14 consecutive years, Iceland grapples with persistent issues. strike aims to draw attention to lingering gender pay gap and prevalent gender-based violence. In certain professions, Icelandic women still earn 21% less than men, and over 40% have experienced gender-based or sexual violence, highlighting need for continued activism.
Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdóttir stood in solidarity with striking women, refusing to work on designated day. PM's participation raised questions about government's role in dressing gender disparities. strike organisers emphasised collective fight against patriarchy, extending call to non-binary individuals, making it a holistic protest for equality.
Advertisement
Inspired by 1975: A day of transformation
strike, titled “Kallarðu þetta jafnrétti?” (You call this equality?), echoes spirit of a landmark event in 1975. Drawing inspiration from nation's first women's strike, women refused all s of work, both paid and unpaid. Sectors dominated by women, such as healthcare and education, faced disruptions, emphasising widespre impact of protest.
Activists asserted that persisting gender pay gap and gender-based violence stem from a common mindset that undervalues women. By connecting se issues, strike seeks to challenge societal norms and initiate a change in mindset. Despite legal measures in 2018, gender pay gap persists, and strike focuses on shifting broer perceptions.
Advertisement
Sharing a picture from 1975 strike, Icelandic President Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson lauded protests, writing, “Women in Iceland are striking today, for 7th time since famous #womensdayoff in 1975. ir activism for equality has changed Icelandic society for better and continues to do so today.”
Women in Iceland are striking today, for 7th time since famous #womensdayoff in 1975. ir activism for equality has changed Icelandic society for better and continues to do so today. #Kvennaverkfall pic.twitter.com/prCZrqP3EJ
Advertisement
— President of Iceland (@PresidentISL)
While legal measures have been implemented to dress gender pay gap, strike underscores need for broer societal change. focus extends beyond legal requirements to influence societal mindsets, challenging undervaluation of work in sectors predominantly occupied by women. Migrant women, often at workforce's bottom rung, face ditional disparities, ding urgency to call for change.
Building on legacy of 1975 strike, full-day action marked a historic moment in Iceland's pursuit of equality. Previous strikes, while impactful, were limited to a few hours. 1975 strike, leing to Iceland passing a law granting equal rights in 1976, serves as a testament to transformative power of collective action.
Today we repeat event of first full day women’s strike since 1975, marking day when 90% of Icelandic women took day off from both work and domestic duties, leing to pivotal change including world’s first female elected president of a country #kvennaverkfall pic.twitter.com/hBnSPSfahG
— MFA Iceland 🇮🇸 (@MFAIceland)
Iceland's 1975 strike continues to inspire similar protests worldwide. From Poland's abortion ban protest to Spain's International Women’s Day strike in 2018, Iceland's legacy of collective action resonates globally. influence of 1975 strike echoes in words of Spain's equality minister, Irene Montero, expressing full support for Iceland's latest protest.
20:16 IST, October 26th 2023