This is certainly not the women’s strike narrated in Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, but a battle against gender violence and wage differences. In Iceland today, October 24th, women do not work. A strike that involves work activities, of course, but also those at home.
In the country permanently in first place in the world in gender equality (for example, the “score” given by the World Economic Forum is 91.2%, Italy in 79th place has 70.5%) but it is not enough, for seventh time in Icelandic history women proclaim the kvennaverkfall , the women’s strike. “We call for the elimination of gender-based violence and the elimination of the pay gap (21% in Iceland). We also want the contribution of all women and non-binary people to be recognized and rewarded”, explains Freyja according to Repubblica Steingrímsdóttir, spokesperson for the 2023 edition of the strike, promoted by women’s organizations of different categories, but also by movements for LGBT rights.
All productive sectors in the country participate in the mobilization and Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir also joined (in the picture). The initiative is inspired by the one that was launched 48 years ago, in 1975, when 90% of Icelandic women participated in the first strike that spurred a series of changes that, in 1980, led Vigdís Finnbogadóttir to become the first woman elected president of the world.
Source: IL Tempo
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
