Reykjavík: In an unprecedented show of solidarity, Iceland's Prime Minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, participated in a nationwide strike, "kvennafri" or women's day off, which brought together tens of thousands of women across the country.
This protest, the first of its kind since 1975, aimed to address the gender pay gap and gender-based violence in Iceland.
Women participating in the protest are raising concerns, particularly regarding their colleagues in the fields of education and healthcare. As part of the demonstration, women and non-binary individuals were encouraged to boycott both paid and unpaid work.
Jakobsdottir expressed her commitment to the cause, stating, "I will not work this day, as I expect all the women in the cabinet will do as well." The Prime Minister underscored that her government is actively investigating how female-dominated professions are valued in comparison to male-dominated fields.
She further emphasised that, although Iceland has been ranked the best country for gender equality by the World Economic Forum for 14 consecutive years, there is still work to be done. She noted that her government had pledged to eliminate the gender pay gap by 2022 and continues to prioritise the eradication of gender-based violence.
This protest has garnered the support of prominent organisations, including Iceland's largest federation of public workers' unions, the Federation of the Public Workers Union in Iceland (BSRB), the Icelandic Nurses' Association, and the Icelandic Association of Women's Associations, among other labour groups.
Statistics from the Icelandic Teachers' Union reveal that women make up the majority at every level of the country's educational system, with 94% of kindergarten teachers being women. Additionally, approximately 80% of employees at Iceland's National University Hospital are women.
The initial strike in 1975 played a pivotal role in Iceland's history, leading to the passage of an equal pay law in the country's parliament. Despite the nation's impressive track record in gender equality, women in Iceland continue to advocate for equal pay and an end to gender-based violence.