Hopes that this message goes worldwide
The solidarity meeting of women and genderqueers at Arnarhóll yesterday had a great turnout and it is estimated that around 1/4 of the nation was in downtown Reykjavik protesting. Composite image
Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir says that the women’s strike and yesterday’s protests are an encouragement to the government to do better in gender equality. There is still an opportunity to achieve full equality by 2030.
She also hopes that the encouragement will reach beyond the country because if nothing changes full equality will not be achieved worldwide until after 300 years.
Tens of thousands of women and genderqueers did not go to their jobs yesterday and went to a rally at Arnarhóll. Then solidarity rallies were held all over the country.
Jakobsdóttir herself did not show up for work yesterday and did not call a cabinet meeting, as is customary on Tuesdays.
“I admit it, I answered a few e-mails yesterday,” she tells us, “and the Prime Minister is actually always on call.
“But there was a lot of respect for this in the prime minister’s office and it was quite clear that the men would take the shift and they did it just fine.”
Ministers partaking in the demonstration
The women’s strike attracted attention around the world, and British, American and Indian media covered the day. The Prime Minister’s participation was also widely covered.
“I think they find it special that the prime minister is involved in a measure that is of course basically an activist measure, but I was just telling them that this is what has been the defining factor in the Icelandic women’s fight for equality since the beginning.
The first demonstration in 1975 event reflected this, where women from very different sectors of society took part to show this solidarity, and it was just exactly the same as yesterday. It was this really great solidarity between women and genderqueers, there were a hundred thousand people attending the meeting at Arnarhóll, mostly women, which reflects that we are somehow all part of the equality fight, no matter what position we hold in society,” Jakobsdóttir says.
“Of course, you’re working on this in politics, but yesterday’s action was a solidarity action, and that’s where I think I, as a politician and feminist, should be involved.”
One-quarter of Icelanders in one place
She says there is still an opportunity to achieve full equality by 2030. The solidarity meeting yesterday is an invitation to the government to do better.
“We’ve reduced the gender pay gap, we’ve taken action, we’ve got an overwhelmingly good toolbox to achieve these goals if the whole society plays a part in the solution. It’s rare that we have a quarter of the society together in one place to show solidarity. At the same time, solidarity meetings were also held all over the country.”
Jakobsdóttir hopes that the strike will be an inspiration for other countries.
“The current situation is that if we continue at the same pace, then, in 300 years’ time, we will have reached full equality on the world stage.”
Does not come as a surprise
Jakobsdóttir said she has not received messages from her foreign colleagues in the wake of yesterday’s reports.
“No, but I don’t think this will surprise them,” says Jakobsdóttir, laughing.
“I use every opportunity I have in international cooperation to raise this flag because I consider gender equality to be the foundation of so many other things, when we talk about climate issues, when we talk about wars in the world – and who are the victims? Who are not in the conversation at the table where decisions are made about peace and war? It’s women. So I have always used the opportunity when I discuss economic issues, social issues, climate issues, and security and defence issues, to raise this equal rights flag because it’s always relevant.”
