Why the ‘world’s most gender-equal country’ is protesting inequality

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context: Iceland PM joins women’s strike

More about the news:

Women of Iceland, often called the world’s most gender-equal country, went on a one-day strike to protest against gender discrimination.
The striking women were joined by the Prime Minister, Katrin Jakobsdóttir.
For 14 years in a row, Iceland has topped the World Economic Forum’s global gender gap rankings.

What is the reason for the strike:

Iceland, a small European island nation with a population of less than 400,000, has made significant progress in women’s rights, including workforce representation and legal support for gender equality.
These advancements were driven, in part, by a nationwide “women’s day off” observed in 1975.
However, despite these gains, challenges persist in two critical areas: the gender pay gap and gender-based violence.
Some professions still witness women earning 21% less than men, and over 40% of women have experienced gender-based or sexual violence.
The strike organizers aim to draw attention to the existing gender disparities in Iceland, highlighting that, despite its reputation as an “equality paradise,” there is a pressing need for action to address these issues.

How the strike is playing out:

Icelandic women are leading a strike called “Kallarðuþettajafnrétti?” (You call this equality?), inspired by the 1975 women’s strike.
Women are refusing all types of work, paid and unpaid, to address gender-based disparities.
Sectors like healthcare and education, where women are predominant, are affected.
The strike calls for solidarity, including non-binary individuals, to challenge patriarchy.
Activists seek to connect gender-based violence and the gender pay gap, highlighting the common problem of women being undervalued.
The strike aims to shift societal attitudes and address deep-rooted inequalities.

What is the 1975 strike:

Women in Iceland organized a full-day strike, in 1975 whichsaw almost 90% of working women participating.
The strike significantly impacted various sectors, including schools, theaters, and even the national airline.
Men were left to care for their children, leading to creative solutions, like armed with sweets and color pencils.
This 1975 strike contributed to Iceland passing a law in 1976 granting equal rights regardless of gender.

Some facts about Icelands:

Iceland is an island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and Norway.
The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik, which is also the largest city in the country.
Iceland is also a world leader in renewable energy, with over 100% of its electricity coming from hydroelectric and geothermal sources.
Iceland is a parliamentary republic.
The head of state is the president, who is elected to a four-year term.
The head of government is the prime minister, who is appointed by the president.
Iceland has a unicameral parliament, the Althing, which has 63 seats.
It is home to the world’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull.
It is also home to the world’s oldest known geyser, Geysir.
Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe.