Tens of thousands of women, including the prime minister, go on strike in Iceland, considered a 'paradise of equality': 'Not equal enough'

Iceland has led the world in gender equality for the last 10 years and is considered a "paradise" for women. However, women argue that the current situation is "not equal enough."

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Tens of thousands of women, including the prime minister, go on strike in Iceland, considered a 'paradise of equality': 'Not equal enough'

Women and LGBT individuals in Iceland went on strike on Tuesday to protest the country's persistent gender-based pay gap and widespread gender-based violence.

As reported by euronews Turkish; this action comes 48 years after the first strike, in which Icelandic women refused to work both at home and in the workplace to prove their value to society.

The first strike in their history led to the election of a female head of state and paved the way for an unprecedented social revolution.

''A DAY OFF FOR WOMEN''

Female workers in all sectors of the country are leaving their jobs, calling it a 'kvennafri', or 'a day off for women'. Among those participating in this action is female Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir.

In a statement, Jakobsdottir said, "I am showing solidarity with Icelandic women."

Finnborg Salome, a member of the Icelandic Federation of Public Workers and an organizer of the strike, is also pleased with the prime minister's participation:

"It is great that our prime minister is also on strike; it shows how important this is and encourages everyone. Even though she is in a privileged position, she is fighting for equal rights for all women in Iceland."

SYMBOLIC DAY

The date of the strike was symbolically set to coincide with the first strike in 1975. That year, data shows that 90 percent of women participated in the aforementioned kvennafrí.

In that first strike, workplaces were emptied and the streets were filled with women. 25,000 women gathered in the capital, Reykjavik, at a time when Iceland's total population was only 210,000.

This time, tens of thousands of women are again expected to participate in this one-day strike.

Sectors where women make up the majority, such as health and education, are expected to be particularly affected by this strike.

ICELAND: A PARADISE OF EQUALITY?

Although the feminist movement in Iceland has made great strides, organizations state that there are still areas that can be improved.

The country has led the world in gender equality rankings for more than a decade and is known as a "paradise of equality."

The Icelandic Parliament has one of the highest proportions of women in Europe at 47.6 percent. Furthermore, the female employment rate is much higher than the continent's average: in 2021, this rate was 77.5 percent. In the Eurozone, this rate is 67.5 percent.

However, organizations claim that in some jobs, women earn 21 percent less than men.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE REMAINS HIGH

Salome says, "We need action to eliminate systemic discrimination in the labor market. We have major problems with income inequality; women tend to work in lower-paid jobs and work part-time."

It is also noted that more than 40 percent of women have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lives.

News Source: 12punto