Women and nonbinary individuals in Iceland recently made a powerful statement against gender pay inequality by organizing a 24-hour strike. As part of the protest, participants were encouraged to abstain from all paid and unpaid work, which included household chores and childcare. The strike, held in various locations across the country, aimed to draw attention to the significant wage disparities faced by women in Iceland, with organizers stating that women earn approximately 21% less than men.
One of the primary objectives of the strike was to shed light on the wage disparities experienced by specific groups within the female community. Immigrant women, sanitation workers, and those in caregiving roles were particularly affected by the gender pay gap.
Remarkably, this was not the first time Icelandic women have taken such action. In fact, this marked the seventh occasion since 1975 that women in Iceland organized a 24-hour strike. The strikes in previous years have proved instrumental in achieving progress, such as the election of the world’s first democratically elected female president, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.
Beyond addressing gender pay disparity, the strike also aimed to raise awareness about other pertinent issues, including sexual violence. It stood as a display of solidarity with the global #MeToo movement, highlighting the deep-rooted problems that women continue to face.
In an effort to emphasize inclusivity, men were encouraged to step in and assume the roles typically performed by women and nonbinary individuals during the strike. This served not only to underscore the importance of shared responsibilities but to demonstrate support for gender equality.
The strike was organized by several groups, including the Icelandic Feminist Initiative, Women in Film and Tech, and the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. It received substantial support from the country’s Prime Minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, who condemned gender inequality and called for change. The President of Iceland, Guðni Jóhannesson, also commended the activism exhibited by Icelandic women in their ongoing fight for equality. Even Eliza Reid, the wife of the President, referenced the influential 1975 strike in her out-of-office message.
While the strike served as a powerful reminder of the work still needed to create a truly equal society, it also demonstrated the determination and resilience of women in Iceland. By taking a significant and collective stand against gender pay disparity and other related issues, these individuals have reignited the conversation surrounding equality and reminded the world that progress is still far from being achieved.
