Women and non-binary people – congratulations – today there are 50 years since women took a day off in 1975. That day was a turning point in Icelandic society and a watershed in women’s fight for equality. Women’s solidarity and strength were unleashed and, as a result, one victory after another was won towards equality.
It is bittersweet to congratulate you on this day; it is bittersweet to stand here in front of you 50 years later. Today we thank the courageous women who paved the way, and we strengthen the bonds of sisterhood to continue our fight for equality and a better society.
Today, we show up once again, and we will continue to show up until we no longer need to fight. How is it that we, still after 50 years of struggle, must gather and protest once again?
In Iceland, many of the most powerful positions in the country are held by women. President, Prime Minister, bishop to name but few – what is missing then?
– women work is on discount because traditional women’s jobs are still undervalued.
– women still bear the burden of childcare and home care.
– 40% of women have experienced gender-based violence in their lifetime. Let’s look at each other. Two out of five women have experienced violence in their lifetime.
We who stand here today know that these statistics are about real people – they are about us!
I could tell you about my low-paid job in a kindergarten, a job I loved for 20 years.
I could tell you about the workload of being a single mother of two children during almost all their childhood.
I could tell you about the struggle of having a disabled child and the challenges I faced as a young mother; I was 18 years old.
I know that many of you could share similar stories.
Could it be that the leaders in Iceland, look but see nothing, listen but hear nothing, speak but do nothing?
I often feel as if we are always telling the same story – and nothing happens.
Society gets a discount on women’s work, but the consequences for women are financial oppression. I know firsthand that poverty creates shame. Having to move constantly between rented apartments, not being able to feed your children enough nutritious food, worrying about buying boots and rainproof clothes. This shame affects one’s well-being, causes anxiety, helplessness and worries that have a multiplier effect on all your daily life. I intend to return this shame to the society that has imposed this on me and so many other women.
We will show up until we no longer must show up
Women dared, wanted and could 50 years ago.
We dare, we want and we can! – Go girls!!