Breadwinner norms and unequal pay
In the early 20th century, employers treated men as family breadwinners who should come first for jobs and pay, even though many women also supported households. Women were often paid less than men for the same work, placed in lower pay grades, and clustered in lower-paid “women’s jobs.” Many left paid work when they married, though not all could. Much of women’s paid and unpaid work in the home went unseen and undervalued.
Breadwinner norms and unequal pay
In the early 20th century, employers treated men as family breadwinners who should come first for jobs and pay, even though many women also supported households. Women were often paid less than men for the same work, placed in lower pay grades, and clustered in lower-paid “women’s jobs.” Many left paid work when they married, though not all could. Much of women’s paid and unpaid work in the home went unseen and undervalued.
Breadwinner norms and unequal pay
In the early 20th century, employers treated men as family breadwinners who should come first for jobs and pay, even though many women also supported households. Women were often paid less than men for the same work, placed in lower pay grades, and clustered in lower-paid “women’s jobs.” Many left paid work when they married, though not all could. Much of women’s paid and unpaid work in the home went unseen and undervalued.
Demonstration for equal pay in Reykjavík in the 1980s. Photographers: Unknown / Women’s History Archives
Demonstration for equal pay in Reykjavík in the 1980s. Photographers: Unknown / Women’s History Archives
Demonstration for equal pay in Reykjavík in the 1980s. Photographers: Unknown / Women’s History Archives
Organizing for fair work
Women’s rights advocates made workplace equality a core aim from the start. In Reykjavík in 1914, members of the Icelandic Women’s Rights Association helped found the country’s first women’s labor union. For decades, some trade unions refused to admit women, even into the mid-20th century, so women formed their own organizations.
From equal pay to equal value
In 1961, after pressure from the women’s movement and postwar international agreements, parliament passed Iceland’s first equal pay law. It required equal pay for equal work, but not equal pay for work of equal value, which advocates wanted. That broader principle arrived with the 1976 Gender Equality Act, the first of its kind in the Nordic countries.
Organizing for fair work
Women’s rights advocates made workplace equality a core aim from the start. In Reykjavík in 1914, members of the Icelandic Women’s Rights Association helped found the country’s first women’s labor union. For decades, some trade unions refused to admit women, even into the mid-20th century, so women formed their own organizations.
From equal pay to equal value
In 1961, after pressure from the women’s movement and postwar international agreements, parliament passed Iceland’s first equal pay law. It required equal pay for equal work, but not equal pay for work of equal value, which advocates wanted. That broader principle arrived with the 1976 Gender Equality Act, the first of its kind in the Nordic countries.
Organizing for fair work
Women’s rights advocates made workplace equality a core aim from the start. In Reykjavík in 1914, members of the Icelandic Women’s Rights Association helped found the country’s first women’s labor union. For decades, some trade unions refused to admit women, even into the mid-20th century, so women formed their own organizations.
From equal pay to equal value
In 1961, after pressure from the women’s movement and postwar international agreements, parliament passed Iceland’s first equal pay law. It required equal pay for equal work, but not equal pay for work of equal value, which advocates wanted. That broader principle arrived with the 1976 Gender Equality Act, the first of its kind in the Nordic countries.
Protest organized by the Association of Women in the Labor Market. Photograpgher unknown / Women’s History Archives
The parliamentarians Svava Jakobsdóttir and Sigurlaug Bjarnadóttir deliver a speech to motivate the members of parliament on Women’s Day in 1975. Photographer unknown. Preservation: Women’s History Archive of Iceland.
The parliamentarians Svava Jakobsdóttir and Sigurlaug Bjarnadóttir deliver a speech to motivate the members of parliament on Women’s Day in 1975.
Photographer unknown. Preservation: Women’s History Archive of Iceland.
More women in paid work
Around 1960, just over one third of Icelandic women worked outside the home. By 1980, women’s labor force participation reached about 65 percent, among the highest in the West. Around 2000 it stood at 78 percent for women and 86 percent for men. Despite reforms, a gender pay gap of about 7 to 27 percent persisted and widened with higher education.
Certifying equal pay
In 2017, parliament introduced equal pay certification to promote workplace equality. Companies and institutions can earn certification by implementing a standardized management system that bases pay decisions on objective criteria and prevents gender discrimination.
More women in paid work
Around 1960, just over one third of Icelandic women worked outside the home. By 1980, women’s labor force participation reached about 65 percent, among the highest in the West. Around 2000 it stood at 78 percent for women and 86 percent for men. Despite reforms, a gender pay gap of about 7 to 27 percent persisted and widened with higher education.
Certifying equal pay
In 2017, parliament introduced equal pay certification to promote workplace equality. Companies and institutions can earn certification by implementing a standardized management system that bases pay decisions on objective criteria and prevents gender discrimination.
More women in paid work
Around 1960, just over one third of Icelandic women worked outside the home. By 1980, women’s labor force participation reached about 65 percent, among the highest in the West. Around 2000 it stood at 78 percent for women and 86 percent for men. Despite reforms, a gender pay gap of about 7 to 27 percent persisted and widened with higher education.
Certifying equal pay
In 2017, parliament introduced equal pay certification to promote workplace equality. Companies and institutions can earn certification by implementing a standardized management system that bases pay decisions on objective criteria and prevents gender discrimination.
Care, childcare, and leave
As more women pursued higher education after mid-century, short parental leave and limited childcare often blocked their path. Policy long favored half-day care for children of cohabiting parents, with full-day places mainly for single mothers and students. In 1980, all working women gained three months of paid maternity leave, calculated in proportion to employment.
Care, childcare, and leave
As more women pursued higher education after mid-century, short parental leave and limited childcare often blocked their path. Policy long favored half-day care for children of cohabiting parents, with full-day places mainly for single mothers and students. In 1980, all working women gained three months of paid maternity leave, calculated in proportion to employment.
“We have the vote,” said writer and parliamentarian Svava Jakobsdóttir, speaking at Reykjavík’s Women’s Day Off rally on October 24, 1975. “And we’re proud of it. But what we seem to forget is that we also fought for the right to run for office.”
Her words came six decades after Icelandic women had won the vote. Yet by 1975, only nine women had ever served in parliament. At the time, just three women, a mere 5% of Alþingi members, held seats, and that was the highest number to date. Only one woman had ever served as a cabinet minister, and for just one year, in 1970.
In comparison, the other Nordic countries had already moved ahead, with women making up 14–26% of their national parliaments and frequently serving in government. Local representation in Iceland was even lower: women made up less than 4% of municipal representatives in 1975.
A poster criticising the limited childcare for women in the labor market in the 1970s. / Women's History Archives
The parliamentarians Svava Jakobsdóttir and Sigurlaug Bjarnadóttir deliver a speech to motivate the members of parliament on Women’s Day in 1975. Photographer unknown. Preservation: Women’s History Archive of Iceland.
The parliamentarians Svava Jakobsdóttir and Sigurlaug Bjarnadóttir deliver a speech to motivate the members of parliament on Women’s Day in 1975.
Photographer unknown. Preservation: Women’s History Archive of Iceland.
Conditions improved in the 1990s as Reykjavík and then other municipalities offered full-day daycare to children of cohabiting parents. In 2000, fathers received an independent right to three months of paid parental leave. Mothers received three months, and parents could share an additional three months. In 2019, leave for each parent was extended from three to four months, and the shared period was reduced from three to two. The fathers’ non-transferable leave aimed to advance equality at work and at home and to ensure children’s contact with both parents. In the first five years after 2000, 88 percent of fathers used their leave, though uptake later fell among higher-earning men.
Conditions improved in the 1990s as Reykjavík and then other municipalities offered full-day daycare to children of cohabiting parents. In 2000, fathers received an independent right to three months of paid parental leave. Mothers received three months, and parents could share an additional three months. In 2019, leave for each parent was extended from three to four months, and the shared period was reduced from three to two. The fathers’ non-transferable leave aimed to advance equality at work and at home and to ensure children’s contact with both parents. In the first five years after 2000, 88 percent of fathers used their leave, though uptake later fell among higher-earning men.
“We have the vote,” said writer and parliamentarian Svava Jakobsdóttir, speaking at Reykjavík’s Women’s Day Off rally on October 24, 1975. “And we’re proud of it. But what we seem to forget is that we also fought for the right to run for office.”
Her words came six decades after Icelandic women had won the vote. Yet by 1975, only nine women had ever served in parliament. At the time, just three women, a mere 5% of Alþingi members, held seats, and that was the highest number to date. Only one woman had ever served as a cabinet minister, and for just one year, in 1970.
In comparison, the other Nordic countries had already moved ahead, with women making up 14–26% of their national parliaments and frequently serving in government. Local representation in Iceland was even lower: women made up less than 4% of municipal representatives in 1975.
Shorter work weeks
To improve work–life balance without cutting pay, Iceland tested shorter hours. A national pilot in 2015 reduced the standard week from 40 to 36 hours in selected workplaces. Since then, shorter hours have been written into many collective agreements.
Shorter work weeks
To improve work–life balance without cutting pay, Iceland tested shorter hours. A national pilot in 2015 reduced the standard week from 40 to 36 hours in selected workplaces. Since then, shorter hours have been written into many collective agreements.
Shorter work weeks
To improve work–life balance without cutting pay, Iceland tested shorter hours. A national pilot in 2015 reduced the standard week from 40 to 36 hours in selected workplaces. Since then, shorter hours have been written into many collective agreements.
Further reading
Information on the equal pay certification from the government of Iceland
Information on the equal pay certification from the Icelandic Women‘s Rights Association
Study by three researchers on Iceland‘s experience of shorter work weeks
Parental Leave in Iceland by Ásdís A. Arnalds, Guðný Björk Eydal and Ingólfur V. Gíslason
Parental Leave. Bringing the Fathers in by Ingólfur V. Gíslason
Further reading
Information on the equal pay certification from the government of Iceland
Information on the equal pay certification from the Icelandic Women‘s Rights Association
Study by three researchers on Iceland‘s experience of shorter work weeks
Parental Leave in Iceland by Ásdís A. Arnalds, Guðný Björk Eydal and Ingólfur V. Gíslason
Parental Leave. Bringing the Fathers in by Ingólfur V. Gíslason
Further reading
Information on the equal pay certification from the government of Iceland
Information on the equal pay certification from the Icelandic Women‘s Rights Association
Study by three researchers on Iceland‘s experience of shorter work weeks
Parental Leave in Iceland by Ásdís A. Arnalds, Guðný Björk Eydal and Ingólfur V. Gíslason
Parental Leave. Bringing the Fathers in by Ingólfur V. Gíslason
