current status of women
According to Julie Bindel of The Guardian, Iceland is considered by many to be one of the most feminist countries in the world (2010). Figure 1 illustrates the compliance of the laws in Iceland of the Convention to Eliminate all Forms of Discrimination Against Women or CEDAW. Laws set in place to protect women are a high priority of the nation (“Women’s Physical Security,” 2009). Iceland was the first country in the world to elect a female head of state. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was elected as president in 1980 and served until 1996. In 2009, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir was elected as Iceland’s first female prime minister, who is also openly gay. In 2008, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir banned all strip clubs in Iceland in an effort to shut down the nation’s sex industry as a whole. Some may argue that this is an example of anti-feminism, but the shut down was implemented to work towards significantly decreasing illegal prostitution and human trafficking. The growth in the sex industry was found to be due to immigrants, not native Icelandic women, meaning that the sex industry is not necessarily something the Icelandic women are striving to keep around (“Women’s Rights Worldwide,” 2013).
Figure 2 illustrates the preference of sons over daughters around the world. Iceland is the only visible country to have a complete lack of son preference of daughters. Iceland is indicated in yellow. Even the United States has some preference of having sons over daughters (“Son Preference and Sex Ratio,” 2011).
Currently, Iceland has the highest rate of female participation in the labor market among the countries that make up the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development or OECD (“Gender Equality,” 2012). the OECD is comprised of 34 countries and is focused on stimulating economic progress and world trade. Despite the active participation of women in the workforce, a significant income gap exists between Icelandic men and women. The 16.3% gender gap is due to factors such as age, education, hours worked, and experience. Additionally, The women of Iceland currently make up 41% of the government. (“Gender Equality,” 2012).
Like many women throughout the world, Icelandic women face issues regarding violence inflicted onto them. Figure 3 illustrates that the women of Iceland have medium levels of physical security which is lower in comparison to several other European countries such as Spain, France, and Italy all of which have high levels of physical security. The physical security of women in Iceland can be compared to that of Canada and the United States. Low levels and a complete lack of physical safety unfortunately comprise a large portion of the world’s countries (Women’s Physical Security, 2007).
The current legislation that works toward the equal treatment of men and women is the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men. It was put into action in 2008 in an effort to further the equality in the labor market, education system, and the domestic lives of Iceland’s citizens. Overall, the women of Iceland are close to being equal to the men of Iceland. There is a continuing effort to gap that inequality (“New Law on Equal Status,” 2008).
Figure 2 illustrates the preference of sons over daughters around the world. Iceland is the only visible country to have a complete lack of son preference of daughters. Iceland is indicated in yellow. Even the United States has some preference of having sons over daughters (“Son Preference and Sex Ratio,” 2011).
Currently, Iceland has the highest rate of female participation in the labor market among the countries that make up the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development or OECD (“Gender Equality,” 2012). the OECD is comprised of 34 countries and is focused on stimulating economic progress and world trade. Despite the active participation of women in the workforce, a significant income gap exists between Icelandic men and women. The 16.3% gender gap is due to factors such as age, education, hours worked, and experience. Additionally, The women of Iceland currently make up 41% of the government. (“Gender Equality,” 2012).
Like many women throughout the world, Icelandic women face issues regarding violence inflicted onto them. Figure 3 illustrates that the women of Iceland have medium levels of physical security which is lower in comparison to several other European countries such as Spain, France, and Italy all of which have high levels of physical security. The physical security of women in Iceland can be compared to that of Canada and the United States. Low levels and a complete lack of physical safety unfortunately comprise a large portion of the world’s countries (Women’s Physical Security, 2007).
The current legislation that works toward the equal treatment of men and women is the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men. It was put into action in 2008 in an effort to further the equality in the labor market, education system, and the domestic lives of Iceland’s citizens. Overall, the women of Iceland are close to being equal to the men of Iceland. There is a continuing effort to gap that inequality (“New Law on Equal Status,” 2008).
Figure 1
figure 2
figure 3
sources
(2012). Gender equality. Ministry of Welfare. Retrieved from http:// eng.velferdarraduneyti.is/departments/gender- equality/
(2013). Women’s rights worldwide: top 10 feminist countries. WeWomen. Retrieved from
http://www.wewomen.com/personal-life/women-s-rights-worldwide-top-10- feminist-countries-d50582c588083.html
Bindel, J. (25 March 2010). Iceland: the world’s most feminist country. The Guardian. Retrieved from
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/25/iceland-most-feminist-country
Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women. (2008). New law on equal status, equal rights boosts
Icelandic women’s protection, women’s anti- discrimination committee hears, but struggle for equality ‘long and
arduous.’ United Nations. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1692.doc.htm
WomenStats Maps. (2007). [map indicating compliance of laws under CEDAW throughout the world]. Discrepant
Government Behavior Concerning Women. Retrieved from
http://womanstats.org/Discrepant%20Government%20Behavior%20Concerning%20Women%20(color)July07.jpg
WomenStats Maps. (2007). [map indicating women’s physical security throughout the world]. Women’s Physical
Security. Retrieved from http://womanstats.org/Women's%20Physical%20Security%20Red%202.jpg
WomeStats Maps. (2011). [map indicating preference of sons over daughters throughout the world]. Son Preference
and Sex Ratio. Retrieved from http://womanstats.org/compressedimgs/Issa_scale_11SWEDENOKcompressed.jpg
(2013). Women’s rights worldwide: top 10 feminist countries. WeWomen. Retrieved from
http://www.wewomen.com/personal-life/women-s-rights-worldwide-top-10- feminist-countries-d50582c588083.html
Bindel, J. (25 March 2010). Iceland: the world’s most feminist country. The Guardian. Retrieved from
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/mar/25/iceland-most-feminist-country
Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women. (2008). New law on equal status, equal rights boosts
Icelandic women’s protection, women’s anti- discrimination committee hears, but struggle for equality ‘long and
arduous.’ United Nations. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1692.doc.htm
WomenStats Maps. (2007). [map indicating compliance of laws under CEDAW throughout the world]. Discrepant
Government Behavior Concerning Women. Retrieved from
http://womanstats.org/Discrepant%20Government%20Behavior%20Concerning%20Women%20(color)July07.jpg
WomenStats Maps. (2007). [map indicating women’s physical security throughout the world]. Women’s Physical
Security. Retrieved from http://womanstats.org/Women's%20Physical%20Security%20Red%202.jpg
WomeStats Maps. (2011). [map indicating preference of sons over daughters throughout the world]. Son Preference
and Sex Ratio. Retrieved from http://womanstats.org/compressedimgs/Issa_scale_11SWEDENOKcompressed.jpg
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Sources
http://www.government.is/how-iceland-is-governed/
http://www.icetradedirectory.com/icelandexport2/english/about_iceland/political_system_in_iceland/
http://www.icetradedirectory.com/icelandexport2/english/about_iceland/political_system_in_iceland/
economy synopsis
Iceland’s main economical resources are geothermal energy, aluminum smelting, and fisheries. Geothermal energy is the main source of energy for the people of Iceland. In terms of aluminum smelting, Iceland is one of the world’s top producers, which has come under scrutiny in the past years. Many believe that the aluminum production plants are creating a negative impact on nature, although the aluminum producers deny this. Iceland is also one of the largest fishing industries in the world, and fish exportation contributes to 40% of the nation’s export revenue. The majority of Iceland’s exports go to the European Union, United States, and Japan.
Iceland has high levels of free trade, meaning imports/exports and encouraged. In 2008, Iceland suffered from a financial crisis, causing inflation. Currently, Iceland’s economy has begun to stabilize, and the unemployment rate is only 5.5%, compared to almost 9% when the economic crisis set in.
Iceland has high levels of free trade, meaning imports/exports and encouraged. In 2008, Iceland suffered from a financial crisis, causing inflation. Currently, Iceland’s economy has begun to stabilize, and the unemployment rate is only 5.5%, compared to almost 9% when the economic crisis set in.
sources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17383525
http://www.indexmundi.com/iceland/economy_profile.html
http://www.indexmundi.com/iceland/economy_profile.html
oil production/consumption
1. Record:
Oil Production: 0 bbl/day
Oil Consumption: 17,430 bbl/day
2. Summarize: Write a short paragraph explaining the information you discovered and conclusions you can draw. How does this information help you develop a sense of place for the country -- living conditions, social development, use of land or other resources, etc.?
For some reason, the CIA Factbook listed Iceland as using 0 barrels of oil per day so I decided to look elsewhere because that didn't sound right at all...So I found a website called International Energy Statistics and it listed Iceland as using about 17, 430 bbl/day as of 2010. This number has decreased over that past few years by about 3,000 bbl/day. Iceland does not produce any oil. Iceland is ranked 130 in oil consumption out of 208 countries listed on indexmundi.com. The small amount of oil consumption is most likely due to the fact that Iceland is a fairly small country and thus does not have as many people consuming the oil. Also, Iceland heavily relies on the use of geothermal energy so oil is not really needed to power machinery, factories, etc.
3. Contemplate:
What questions does the information raise in your mind. Write down two questions you have based on what you have discovered.
Is Iceland's oil consumption small or large based on their population? It's small compared to other countries but I'd like to know what it's like in proportion to its population.
Am I accurate when I say that Iceland harvests geothermal energy to fuel machinery in their industry?
Oil Production: 0 bbl/day
Oil Consumption: 17,430 bbl/day
2. Summarize: Write a short paragraph explaining the information you discovered and conclusions you can draw. How does this information help you develop a sense of place for the country -- living conditions, social development, use of land or other resources, etc.?
For some reason, the CIA Factbook listed Iceland as using 0 barrels of oil per day so I decided to look elsewhere because that didn't sound right at all...So I found a website called International Energy Statistics and it listed Iceland as using about 17, 430 bbl/day as of 2010. This number has decreased over that past few years by about 3,000 bbl/day. Iceland does not produce any oil. Iceland is ranked 130 in oil consumption out of 208 countries listed on indexmundi.com. The small amount of oil consumption is most likely due to the fact that Iceland is a fairly small country and thus does not have as many people consuming the oil. Also, Iceland heavily relies on the use of geothermal energy so oil is not really needed to power machinery, factories, etc.
3. Contemplate:
What questions does the information raise in your mind. Write down two questions you have based on what you have discovered.
Is Iceland's oil consumption small or large based on their population? It's small compared to other countries but I'd like to know what it's like in proportion to its population.
Am I accurate when I say that Iceland harvests geothermal energy to fuel machinery in their industry?