Why Are Women In Iceland, Including Prime Minister, On A Strike? Read Here

Have you ever seen a prime minister or president of a country fighting for equality? Iceland PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir and other women of the country are protesting against the gender pay gap and gender-based violence. According to a report by BBC, at least 10,000 women, including the prime minister, refused to work on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. 

Since 1975, this is the seventh time that women have planned a walkout. The full-day women’s strike highlights the pay gap in fields in which they form the majority of the workforce, including education and healthcare. These are also the fields which have been highly affected by the protest.

Reports also suggested that women and non-binary people were urged by others to walk out of work on Tuesday. They refused to do paid and unpaid work, including household chores. 

In an interview, PM Jakobsdóttir was quoted saying, “I will not work this day, as I expect all the women [in cabinet] will do as well.” 

Strikes Against Gender Pay Gap And Gender-Based Violence In Iceland

Women in Iceland are striking today, for the 7th time since the famous #womensdayoff in 1975. Their activism for equality has changed Icelandic society for the better and continues to do so today. #Kvennaverkfallpic.twitter.com/prCZrqP3EJ

— President of Iceland (@PresidentISL) October 24, 2023

This strike in Iceland is called ‘Women’s Day Off’ or “Kvennafrí'' in Icelandic. Since 1975, it has been organised to spread awareness around ‘systematic’ wage discrimination and gender-based violence witnessed by women and people identifying with the LGBTQ+ community. 

There have been similar strikes in the past. It is big this time because the prime minister of the country has joined forces with other women. According to several reports, she did not arrive for her official duties on Tuesday. Two-thirds staff of the prime minister also comprises women, and they also joined her in the strike. 

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'Another 300 Years To Achieve Gender Equality'

According to the Icelandic Teachers’ Union, women make up the largest part of the workforce in the education sector. At least 94% of the kindergarten teachers are women. The National University Hospital in Iceland, which is the biggest in the country, has women making up 80% part of the workforce. 

BBC has also reported that strike organiser Kristín Ástgeirsdóttir said that they have witnessed gender-based violence rising in the country. Her theory was quoted as, “More gender equality, less violence.”

PM Jakobsdóttir was in an interview with the public service broadcaster radio station where she said that the fight for equal gender pay is progressing at a slow pace. She added, “Looking at the whole world, it could take 300 years to achieve gender equality.”

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“As you know, we have not yet reached our goals of full gender equality and we are still tackling the gender-based wage gap, which is unacceptable in 2023. We are still tackling gender-based violence, which has been a priority for my government to tackle,” the prime minister was quoted as saying. 

Today we repeat the event of the first full day women’s strike since 1975, marking the day when 90% of Icelandic women took the day off from both work and domestic duties, leading to pivotal change including the world’s first female elected president of a country #kvennaverkfallpic.twitter.com/hBnSPSfahG

— MFA Iceland 🇮🇸 (@MFAIceland) October 24, 2023

Interestingly, according to the World Economic Forum (WEP), Iceland has ranked among the top countries under the gender equality index. It has close to around 91.2% of the gender gap, which is huge for any country in the world. With 90% of the female workforce on strike on Tuesday, it makes you wonder about the politicians and policies in place in your country to counter grave issues like the gender pay gap and violence against women.