Iceland and Feminism, Why we need it too
The Idea of feminism is not a new concept for most Scandinavian countries. Let us talk about how most Scandinavian countries well understand and implement feminism value not only as something what they believe but also as a fundamental reason for what they do. I myself, as an Asian woman who was raised under the domination of patriarchy culture, envy so much with women who live there and wish someday experience the same thing here in my beloved country, Indonesia. Well you know, even in my countries, many people and even the government is still afraid of word “feminism” just because they are not fully aware and dont understand it well.
Now, let’s talk about Iceland. We can rank Iceland as number 1 most feminist country in the world based on its well maintained reputation. The Global Gender Gap Index by World Economic Forum also put Iceland on the first rank. Maybe Iceland is one of the coldest parts on earth but their government is one of the coolest on this universe, regarding the gender equality issue. Iceland’s commitment can be seen on Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men №10/2008, as amended by Act №162/2010, №126/2011, №62/2014, №79/2015, №117/2016 and №56/2017. It is stated some points regarding the gender equality in some aspect of life such as education, work, family, protection for women, discrimination, and even the spirit to fight against negative stereotypes regarding the roles of women and men. It also shows in the government of Iceland’s policy.
Gender Equality in Workplace
The parliament of Iceland is expected to pas a bill that will make wage discrimination illegal. Currently, Iceland is working to elliminate gender wage gap in order to end the gender inequality in workplace. The status quo shows that currently women in Iceland earn 14%-18% less than men and this soon will be vanished with due date on 2020.
Not only the gender wage gap, Iceland also shows their serious action in women representation in company boards. In artcle 15 of the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men, it states that public company board or government council or committee may not have less than 40% gender equality. This law states that any company whose employees are above 25 persons must implement a gender equality program in their office and will be reviewer every three years.
Government changes it all
After experiencing crisis that lead to the resignation of conservative government, in 2009 Iceland was finally led by Social Democrat Johanna Sigurdardottir (the Iceland’s first female and world’s first openly lesbian prime minister). Wisely, Iceland did what they should do to encounter the economic crisis. The new elected government give punishment to those responsible, minimising, holding banks accountable, cutting government spending, raising taxes, and selectively forgiving individual household debts.
Guess what they can conclude by this mechanism? Male domination is one of the factors that lead economy to suffering. In response to this conclusion, thus, Iceland develop the minimum 40% women requirement for company board and government body. Currently, 41% of Iceland’s parliament members are women. This is what they called “feminine values.” Besides, the government also keep implementing policy to protect the middle and working class people because they are aware of the impact of right wing privatisation policies.
Not only those facts, Iceland also has ministry of gender equality! Am I kidding you? Honey, I am not. They have it and it’s real. The country created agency to check and balance progress on advancing equality as part of a revisions to the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men. The agency includes a three part council which includes the Equal Status Council, the Complaints Committee, and a new Centre for Gender Equality. Moreover, these agencies research, advertise, advocate, and check laws on gender equality. Their goal is to create a legal, cultural, historical, social and psychosocial approach to gender equality. This country does become better when women took a lead!
They Rule Pornography and Protect Women seriously
Instead of oppressing women to wear or not wear any specific clothes, Iceland government choose to protect their value as women! Strip club is illegal! Prostitution? illegal! Paying for sex is illegal in Iceland for decades, but in 2007 the government amended the law arguing that most people who turn to soliciting sex are those who have no option or were coerced by others. Thus, instead of punishing the victims, they choose to criminalize those who pay for the sex and the third parties involved as well.
For feminist reasoning, Iceland also banned strip club because it harms women. It’s stated in their law that business may not gain their profit from nudity of their employee and it’s not acceptable that women treated as a product to be sold. It also applies in public advertising that ban any ad that belittle any gender or against the mission for gender equality. They do it all not for religious reasons, but to support women.
Best Place to be Parents
Iceland will not spend their time debating whether your wife should work or not or whether your kids can grow up well although their mom is a career woman. They don’t put the burden on women and they realize parenting is the responsibility of both husband and wife. I guess every parents in the world would love to move to Iceland because they have the best maternity/paternity policy in the world. Created in 2000 and amended in 2006, Icelandic Act on Maternity/paternity and Parental Leave gives 9 months of parental leave. Wait, there’s still more. The Government of Iceland also covers parental leave for birth, adoption, and foster care for all employees. Even if you are self-employed, government will pay 80% of your monthly income. This policy is to ensure the children grow up with equal care from both of their parents and to keep workplaces balance. I think this is the highest and greatest standard of parental care in the universe that every parents in other country will envy.
Educating the gender equality minded generation
Having parents who understand the goals of gender equality is not enough. You must equip the next generation to continue these practices. Thus, on article 23 of the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men there is a mandate that gender equality must be taught in schools, from pre-schools to college. Not to mention that Iceland implement free education for your children. It’s free and support gender equality, it’s called education in Iceland. The law states: “educational materials and textbooks shall be designed in such a way as not to discriminate against either sex.” So, we can imagine what Iceland would be in the future.
So, why we need it too?
Living in one of Asian countries who just rank 84th in Global Gender Gap Report 2017 (even we ranked 74th in 2012) a.k.a Indonesia, you can now mention what I usually face in my daily life as a woman. Let me explain what we, as women, must to face. First in workplace, women still get lower wage than the men because our government and company rules think men are responsible as the leader of the family, the main source for economic support. I also experienced the sexist treatment verbally, the representation of women in workplace is still not enough. Some companies are not really friendly with working moms, they prefer single ones for some reasons. Maternity leave? You only get 3 months plus still required to answer your boss phone calls. Jokes in workplace? Ah, you don’t wanna know how sexist it is. Period leaves? Thanks God I am working for International Non Governmental Organisation that guarantee two days period leaves each month. But still, many female friends who work for company don’t know about it. Insurance? If you’re a husband, your kids and wife get health insurance too. But if you’re a wife, your husband will not get the benefit. So, what if, I am a working mom and my husband can’t work anymore because he’s sick for the rest of his life? Who will cover his medication?
The drama is not only in workplace. 40% female parliament members? Seriously? We even struggle so hard to fulfill 20% of female quota. But for this government level, I can proudly say that my country is growing. Female ministers and female political leaders? Yes, we have now. Although the representation is still not as high as Iceland’s, but it’s getting better. Protection on women rights? Oh wait, just google the rate of rape cases and violence against women. It’s still a long long homework to do. Education? Still far. We still educate our children in schools with books that contain sexism, putting women under men, and any patriarchy system that should be stopped.
Our Asian culture and patriarchy system has rooted for decades. Even some of my female friends still do not care about their right as women and pointing feminism as a pain in the ass. They still think the idea of feminism against the nature of women. Seriously? Yeah, in my country, some people still judge working mom vs stay at home mom, giving your babies formula milk or breast feeding, c-section or natural birth, you obey your husband or negotiate, etc. Many domestic violence against women happened and went too far until the wife died because the friends and neighbour still think it’s their family issue, the most private space that they can’t touch. Some of them still believe that if the wife obeys what their husband instructed, the violence will not happen. Children underage marrieage? Still an unsolved issue because women, again, have no power over this patriarchy prison. And many more.
I am sick of it. We need to change our mindset and behaviour. We need to give more space and opportunity for women to lead. We need to educate our children to respect each other, not humiliate each other based on gender. We need to tell ourselves that women and men should get equal opportunity. Let’s stop this and see what Iceland is doing right now. Imagine if all countries implement the same feminist policies. How many women you can save from violence and discrimination? The world will be better.
