There are no countries in the world where there is complete equality between the sexes, but in some countries it is better than in others. Our Nordic neighbor Iceland is often highlighted as the most equal country in the world. For 14 years in a row, Iceland has topped the list in the equality survey the Global Gender Gap Report. In 2022, Iceland even became the first country in the world to receive a gold certificate from the United Nations Development Program for the country’s efforts towards gender equality. But that does not mean that the Icelanders have reached their goal. Recently, many thousands of people took to the streets in the capital, Reykjavik, to draw attention to the fact that there are still problems with violence against women and a lack of equal pay. Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir is professor of gender studies at the University of Iceland. She has a long list of reasons why Iceland is doing well in terms of gender equality. She points out both that women have been part of the labor market for a long time, that the women’s movement is strong and that there have been political parties exclusively with women. Let’s dive into Iceland’s history of gender equality. Many women have been in the labor market – First of all, there is a very long tradition of women performing paid work in Iceland, says Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir in the digital interview. The first statistics we have are from 1930. Even then a third of women were in the labor market, and the number increased drastically after the war. She believes it is because there have rarely been problems with unemployment in Iceland, so there has been a need for all working hands. This means that it has not only been the men who have been out making money. Nevertheless, women in Iceland still earn less than men today. – In relation to the economy, there is still a large pay gap, despite the fact that we have gender quotas for company boards and an equal pay act, says Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir. An old and strong women’s movement – You can also mention the long history of the women’s movement in Iceland, continues Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir. The first women’s rights association was established in 1907 and it is still going strong. The association is called Kvenrettindafelag Íslands and still exists today. – We had a very, very strong #metoo movement. I think it was exceptionally large, says Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir and continues. – So there are many indicators that the women’s movement is strong, which I think helps create more attention to the problems and contributes to the desire to fight. It is inspiring and it gives strength. It’s like having a living history. Women-only parties When you ask Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir why Iceland scores high on the equality index, she lists several reasons – but she also has a reservation. She believes that it is also about how the organization World Economic Forum, which is behind the Global Gender Gap Report, has compiled its index. – The index is made up of four columns, which are then built up with several subcategories. It is health, education, economy and politics. And it is the fourth pillar that gets Iceland to the top, says Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir and points out that Iceland, for example, ranks eighth on the UN Development Programme’s Gender Inequality Index. Here, Denmark has first place. I tend to say that you shouldn’t take it too seriously, because it is a man-made construction. While we measure some things, we overlook other things, says Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir. But when it comes to politics, women in Iceland have historically had a place at the table. The world’s first female democratically elected president was Iceland’s Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, who held office from 1980 to 1996. Today, almost half – 47.6 percent – of the Icelandic parliament are women. One of the reasons is that Iceland has a history of having “women’s lists” – that is, political parties with exclusively female candidates. – We have had women’s parties for a third of the last century and it is an important part of Iceland’s history – and Iceland’s women’s history. It is something that is kept alive, says Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir. A quarter of the population took to the streets Yet Iceland has not reached the target. On 24 October last year, Icelanders took to the streets on the 48th anniversary of a historically large demonstration called Women’s Day. – We have done it several times. The first time was in 1975, but we have also done it in 1985, i.e. 10 years later, in 2005, 2010, 2016, 2018 and now in 2023, says Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir. It was not the first time that Icelandic women took to the streets. However, Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir believes that this year’s strike is the largest of its kind. An estimated 100,000 took part, about a quarter of Iceland’s population. The country’s prime minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, was also there. Unlike the women-only demonstration 48 years ago, both women and non-binary people were encouraged to participate this year. The feminist movement also encompasses the rights of LGBT+ people in Iceland. – This shows the inclusive approach that is present in the women’s movement in Iceland, says Þorgerður Jennýjardóttir Einarsdóttir. – They have also done a lot to reach out to immigrant women, so that the women’s movement tries to be attentive and inclusive. The professor says it was a clear message from everyone who took part in the demonstration. – The official statement from the organizers is that they demand that gender-based violence be stopped and that the contributions of women and non-binary people to society be recognized and rewarded. They wanted to demonstrate the importance of their role in society.
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Despite Iceland being ranked as the world’s most equal country, one in four Icelanders took part in strikes to support women’s rights
