Like many other historical countries, women were not equal to men in early Iceland. Women were not allowed to do things that were considered masculine in Icelandic culture, such as participating in Viking raids and parliament. Women were mainly seen as being the domestic caretakers. However, early Icelandic women had a lot more freedom when compared to other European countries at the time. For example, early Icelandic women managed their family’s finances and tended to the farm when their husbands were out. There were even laws set up to protect the safety of women, including prosecution for unwanted sexual attention (Short).
Speaking in more modern terms, Iceland is seen as being one of the most feminist countries in the entire world. In 1920, women gained the right to national suffrage and holding positions in office. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was the first nationally elected president in the world in 1980. There have been several demonstrations that have taken place over the course of Iceland’s modern history that fought for the rights of women. In 1975, about 1/3 of the entire population of women in Iceland walked out of their work to prove the importance of their presence in the work force. Currently, men and women are both seen as vital parts of the workforce (“Gender Equality”).
In March 2010, Johanna Siguroardottir, Prime Minister at the time, outlawed all strip clubs in Iceland (Cochrane). The goal was to basically shut down the entire sex industry completely. Interestingly, sex is not a taboo topic in Iceland, and pre marital sex is not looked down upon. It is common for many women in Iceland to have a child before they get married while many don’t get married at all (“Iceland”).
Iceland seems like a very forward-thinking country. Being a woman myself, I admire their efforts to reach gender equality. However, I’m a little confused about the whole shutting down the sex industry thing. Some sources are saying that many of the sex workers are immigrants and not Icelandic women anyway and could possibly be suffering from abuse. I agree that prostitution/abuse should be avoided, but I feel like it’s more feministic to allow women to choose what they want to do with their lives/bodies than it is to tell them not to.
Sources
Short, W.R. The role of women in viking society. Hurstwic. Retrieved from
http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/society/text/women.htm
Gender equality. Ministry of Welfare. Retrieved from
http://eng.velferdarraduneyti.is/departments/gender-equality/
Cochrane, K. (3 October 2011). Is Iceland the best country for women?
The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/03/iceland-best-country-women-
feminist
Iceland. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Iceland.html#b
Speaking in more modern terms, Iceland is seen as being one of the most feminist countries in the entire world. In 1920, women gained the right to national suffrage and holding positions in office. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was the first nationally elected president in the world in 1980. There have been several demonstrations that have taken place over the course of Iceland’s modern history that fought for the rights of women. In 1975, about 1/3 of the entire population of women in Iceland walked out of their work to prove the importance of their presence in the work force. Currently, men and women are both seen as vital parts of the workforce (“Gender Equality”).
In March 2010, Johanna Siguroardottir, Prime Minister at the time, outlawed all strip clubs in Iceland (Cochrane). The goal was to basically shut down the entire sex industry completely. Interestingly, sex is not a taboo topic in Iceland, and pre marital sex is not looked down upon. It is common for many women in Iceland to have a child before they get married while many don’t get married at all (“Iceland”).
Iceland seems like a very forward-thinking country. Being a woman myself, I admire their efforts to reach gender equality. However, I’m a little confused about the whole shutting down the sex industry thing. Some sources are saying that many of the sex workers are immigrants and not Icelandic women anyway and could possibly be suffering from abuse. I agree that prostitution/abuse should be avoided, but I feel like it’s more feministic to allow women to choose what they want to do with their lives/bodies than it is to tell them not to.
Sources
Short, W.R. The role of women in viking society. Hurstwic. Retrieved from
http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/society/text/women.htm
Gender equality. Ministry of Welfare. Retrieved from
http://eng.velferdarraduneyti.is/departments/gender-equality/
Cochrane, K. (3 October 2011). Is Iceland the best country for women?
The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/03/iceland-best-country-women-
feminist
Iceland. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Iceland.html#b