Iceland’s Women and Nonbinary Community Organizes 24-Hour Strike to Combat Gender Pay Gap – NPR

People across Iceland gathered during the women’s strike in Reykjavik, Iceland on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. The strike was organized by women and nonbinary individuals, including Iceland’s prime minister, to fight against unequal pay and gender-based violence. Thousands of women participated by stopping both paid and unpaid work for the day, including childcare, household chores, and other family-related responsibilities. Demonstrations took place in various locations, such as Arnarhóll in Reykjavík, as well as in Drangsnes, Hvmmstangi, and Raufarhöfn. The organizers highlighted that women earn around 21% less than men, with immigrant women, those working in sanitation and childcare, disabled individuals, and the elderly experiencing the most significant wage disparities in Iceland. Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir addressed the issue on X, formerly known as Twitter, emphasizing the need to uphold international humanitarian law and put an end to suffering. This protest marks the seventh time Icelandic women have gone on strike since 1975 and the first 24-hour strike since then. The 1975 strike played a crucial role in electing Vigdís Finnbogadóttir as the world’s first female president. Subsequent strikes occurred in 1985, 2005, 2010, 2016, and 2018 to address the gender pay gap, sexual violence, and support the #MeToo movement. President Guðni Jóhannesson praised the activists for their positive impact on Icelandic society, while Eliza Reid, the wife of President Jóhannesson and an author, mentioned the 1975 strike in her out-of-office message to underscore the ongoing need for equality. The strike was organized by several groups, including the Icelandic Feminist Initiative, Women in Film and Tech, and the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Men were encouraged to support women and nonbinary individuals by taking over their responsibilities both at work and at home. Organizers emphasized that children were welcome at the demonstrations and meetings.