Thousands of women across Iceland, including the prime minister, went on strike on Tuesday as part of a campaign to push for greater gender equality in the country.
It is the seventh time that women in Iceland have gone on strike in the name of gender equality, campaign organizers announced on their official website. The first strike took place on October 24, 1975. The strike, known as "Women's Free Day" or "Kvennafri" in Icelandic, was organized to raise awareness of "systemic" pay discrimination and gender-based violence faced by women in Iceland, according to organizers.
Photo: AP/Arnie TorfasonSome schools and libraries in the Scandinavian country did not open their doors on Tuesday, Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported. Only one bank branch was open on the entire island. The public service RUV also warned readers that they will report less, because their journalists participated in the strike. Medical clinics in the capital area treated only emergencies during the strike, which was due to end at midnight local time.
One of the most prominent participants in the strike was the country's Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, who "did not perform her official duties" on Tuesday, a spokesperson for her office told CNN.
Jakobsdóttir postponed the cabinet meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, the spokeswoman said, reiterating that she wanted to show solidarity with Icelanders.
The employees, who make up two-thirds of the staff in the office of the Icelandic Prime Minister, all participated in the strike and did not come to work on Tuesday, the spokesperson added.
As a reminder, the organizers hope that the women's strike will bring society to a standstill, in order to draw attention to the gender wage gap and widespread gender and sexual violence, reports Index. It was the first all-day women's strike since 1975, when 90 percent of Iceland's women refused to work, leading to key changes, including the first woman elected president of the country.
MJ/CNN
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