Twice during the 20th century, first in the early decades and again in the 1980s, women in Iceland came together to form special women’s electoral lists for municipal and parliamentary elections. The purpose was to empower women, increase their influence in a male-dominated society, and boost their self-confidence in the public arena.
In 1908, just one year after Reykjavík women gained the right to vote and run in local elections, several women’s associations united to put forward a women’s list for the city council. Voters elected all four women on the list, marking a significant victory. Women soon organized similar lists in municipal elections in Akureyri in the north and Seyðisfjörður in the east. In 1922, women’s organizations created another list—this time for national elections—and elected Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason as the first woman to enter the Icelandic parliament. These early campaigns reflected strong collaboration among a broad network of women’s associations.
Twice during the 20th century, first in the early decades and again in the 1980s, women in Iceland came together to form special women’s electoral lists for municipal and parliamentary elections. The purpose was to empower women, increase their influence in a male-dominated society, and boost their self-confidence in the public arena.
In 1908, just one year after Reykjavík women gained the right to vote and run in local elections, several women’s associations united to put forward a women’s list for the city council. Voters elected all four women on the list, marking a significant victory. Women soon organized similar lists in municipal elections in Akureyri in the north and Seyðisfjörður in the east. In 1922, women’s organizations created another list—this time for national elections—and elected Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason as the first woman to enter the Icelandic parliament. These early campaigns reflected strong collaboration among a broad network of women’s associations.
Twice during the 20th century, first in the early decades and again in the 1980s, women in Iceland came together to form special women’s electoral lists for municipal and parliamentary elections. The purpose was to empower women, increase their influence in a male-dominated society, and boost their self-confidence in the public arena.
In 1908, just one year after Reykjavík women gained the right to vote and run in local elections, several women’s associations united to put forward a women’s list for the city council. Voters elected all four women on the list, marking a significant victory. Women soon organized similar lists in municipal elections in Akureyri in the north and Seyðisfjörður in the east. In 1922, women’s organizations created another list—this time for national elections—and elected Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason as the first woman to enter the Icelandic parliament. These early campaigns reflected strong collaboration among a broad network of women’s associations.
Photographers: Unknown / Women’s History Archives
Photographers: Unknown / Women’s History Archives
Photographers: Unknown / Women’s History Archives
Reviving the Strategy in the 1980s
Reviving the Strategy in the 1980s
Reviving the Strategy in the 1980s
By 1980, interest in reviving the Women’s List strategy had grown. Despite earlier gains, women’s representation in formal politics remained low. At the time, only three women held seats in Alþingi, making up just 5% of MPs. The numbers in local councils were similar. Only one woman had ever served as a government minister, and her term lasted just one year.
In 1982, the Women’s List returned to municipal elections in Reykjavík and Akureyri. Each city elected two women from these lists, and the national percentage of women in local councils rose from 6% to 13%. The following year, in 1983, the women’s list ran for parliament with even greater success. The number of women in Alþingi tripled from three to nine, raising their share from 5% to 15%. A third of these new MPs came from the Women’s List, but the campaign also pushed other parties to promote more women on their candidate lists.
By 1980, interest in reviving the Women’s List strategy had grown. Despite earlier gains, women’s representation in formal politics remained low. At the time, only three women held seats in Alþingi, making up just 5% of MPs. The numbers in local councils were similar. Only one woman had ever served as a government minister, and her term lasted just one year.
In 1982, the Women’s List returned to municipal elections in Reykjavík and Akureyri. Each city elected two women from these lists, and the national percentage of women in local councils rose from 6% to 13%. The following year, in 1983, the women’s list ran for parliament with even greater success. The number of women in Alþingi tripled from three to nine, raising their share from 5% to 15%. A third of these new MPs came from the Women’s List, but the campaign also pushed other parties to promote more women on their candidate lists.
“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.
Why Women's Lists Mattered
From Voting Rights to Representation
From Voting Rights to Representation
Campaigning for the Women’s List, downtown Reykjavík, 1980s. Photographer: 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.
Women’s lists were a response to the persistent barriers women faced in entering formal politics. Political parties often placed women at the bottom of their lists, far from electable positions. When parties introduced primaries later in the century, women found it more challenging to fund their campaigns and gain visibility. Women’s lists offered an alternative route into politics.
The women elected on these lists championed issues long ignored in mainstream politics, especially those affecting women and children. The four women who joined the Reykjavík City Council in 1908 advocated for food aid for low-income families, established public playgrounds, and introduced swimming lessons for girls. Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason, elected to parliament in 1922 through the women’s list, later joined another political party but continued to advocate for women’s rights. She led the campaign to build a national hospital, a long-standing goal of Icelandic women’s organizations. When the hospital opened in 1930, women had raised roughly one-third of its construction costs.
In the 1980s, women’s lists brought new issues into the political spotlight. For the first time, gender-based violence was publicly addressed in parliament. Rather than following traditional party lines, they built their platforms around shared experiences and values shaped by caregiving, childrearing, and women’s cultural perspectives.
Women’s lists were a response to the persistent barriers women faced in entering formal politics. Political parties often placed women at the bottom of their lists, far from electable positions. When parties introduced primaries later in the century, women found it more challenging to fund their campaigns and gain visibility. Women’s lists offered an alternative route into politics.
The women elected on these lists championed issues long ignored in mainstream politics, especially those affecting women and children. The four women who joined the Reykjavík City Council in 1908 advocated for food aid for low-income families, established public playgrounds, and introduced swimming lessons for girls. Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason, elected to parliament in 1922 through the women’s list, later joined another political party but continued to advocate for women’s rights. She led the campaign to build a national hospital, a long-standing goal of Icelandic women’s organizations. When the hospital opened in 1930, women had raised roughly one-third of its construction costs.
In the 1980s, women’s lists brought new issues into the political spotlight. For the first time, gender-based violence was publicly addressed in parliament. Rather than following traditional party lines, they built their platforms around shared experiences and values shaped by caregiving, childrearing, and women’s cultural perspectives.
“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 Lasting Impact
A Lasting Impact
A Lasting Impact
Although women’s lists eventually dissolved as independent movements, their impact continues. Through coordinated action, women from different walks of life transformed the face of Icelandic politics, helping to clear the path for future generations of women.
Although women’s lists eventually dissolved as independent movements, their impact continues. Through coordinated action, women from different walks of life transformed the face of Icelandic politics, helping to clear the path for future generations of women.
Although women’s lists eventually dissolved as independent movements, their impact continues. Through coordinated action, women from different walks of life transformed the face of Icelandic politics, helping to clear the path for future generations of women.
