In the summer of 1915, women gathered in front of the parliament building (Alþingi) on Austurvöllur Square in downtown Reykjavík to celebrate a historic victory: the right to vote and run for parliament. On June 19, King Christian X of Denmark, who also served as Iceland’s monarch at the time, signed a new constitution that granted Icelandic women these hard-won political rights. Since then, Iceland has celebrated June 19 as Women’s Rights Day.
Icelandic women had fought for this moment since the late 19th century. Although they gained suffrage relatively early compared to other countries, lawmakers imposed significant limitations on it. They initially allowed only women aged 40 and over to vote, with plans to lower the age by one year each year. This gradual rollout reflected the reluctance of the male political establishment, which viewed full enfranchisement as too radical. In 1920, lawmakers finally equalized the voting age between women and men. But until 1934, they could still revoke voting rights from anyone who had received public assistance.
In the summer of 1915, women gathered in front of the parliament building (Alþingi) on Austurvöllur Square in downtown Reykjavík to celebrate a historic victory: the right to vote and run for parliament. On June 19, King Christian X of Denmark, who also served as Iceland’s monarch at the time, signed a new constitution that granted Icelandic women these hard-won political rights. Since then, Iceland has celebrated June 19 as Women’s Rights Day.
Icelandic women had fought for this moment since the late 19th century. Although they gained suffrage relatively early compared to other countries, lawmakers imposed significant limitations on it. They initially allowed only women aged 40 and over to vote, with plans to lower the age by one year each year. This gradual rollout reflected the reluctance of the male political establishment, which viewed full enfranchisement as too radical. In 1920, lawmakers finally equalized the voting age between women and men. But until 1934, they could still revoke voting rights from anyone who had received public assistance.
In the summer of 1915, women gathered in front of the parliament building (Alþingi) on Austurvöllur Square in downtown Reykjavík to celebrate a historic victory: the right to vote and run for parliament. On June 19, King Christian X of Denmark, who also served as Iceland’s monarch at the time, signed a new constitution that granted Icelandic women these hard-won political rights. Since then, Iceland has celebrated June 19 as Women’s Rights Day.
Icelandic women had fought for this moment since the late 19th century. Although they gained suffrage relatively early compared to other countries, lawmakers imposed significant limitations on it. They initially allowed only women aged 40 and over to vote, with plans to lower the age by one year each year. This gradual rollout reflected the reluctance of the male political establishment, which viewed full enfranchisement as too radical. In 1920, lawmakers finally equalized the voting age between women and men. But until 1934, they could still revoke voting rights from anyone who had received public assistance.
Step by Step Toward the Ballot Box
Step by Step Toward the Ballot Box
Step by Step Toward the Ballot Box
Women in Iceland gained the right to vote and run for office gradually. Before they secured national suffrage, they had already won these rights in municipal elections.
In fact, at least three Icelandic women cast votes in local elections before suffrage was formally granted. Their actions stemmed from a legal ambiguity between the Danish and Icelandic versions of the electoral law. At the time, Iceland was still under Danish rule. Danish law stated that “men” who met certain conditions could vote, clearly meaning males. But in Icelandic, the word maður (man) was often used more broadly to include both men and women.
Three women, including one divorcée and two widows, interpreted the law in their favor. All were financially independent property owners. The best known among them was shopkeeper Vilhelmína Lever, who voted in Akureyri’s municipal election in 1863, twenty years before women were officially granted voting rights in local elections.
Vilhelmína Lever seen through the eyes of the artist Kristinn G. Jóhannsson.
Image of an election document showing that Vilhelmína Lever voted, while another woman who also had the right to vote did not.
Women in Iceland gained the right to vote and run for office gradually. Before they secured national suffrage, they had already won these rights in municipal elections.
In fact, at least three Icelandic women cast votes in local elections before suffrage was formally granted. Their actions stemmed from a legal ambiguity between the Danish and Icelandic versions of the electoral law. At the time, Iceland was still under Danish rule. Danish law stated that “men” who met certain conditions could vote, clearly meaning males. But in Icelandic, the word maður (man) was often used more broadly to include both men and women. Three women, including one divorcée and two widows, interpreted the law in their favor. All were financially independent property owners. The best known among them was shopkeeper Vilhelmína Lever, who voted in Akureyri’s municipal election in 1863, twenty years before women were officially granted voting rights in local elections.
Vilhelmína Lever seen through the eyes of the artist Kristinn G. Jóhannsson.
Image of an election document showing that Vilhelmína Lever voted, while another woman who also had the right to vote did not.
Women in Iceland gained the right to vote and run for office gradually. Before they secured national suffrage, they had already won these rights in municipal elections.
In fact, at least three Icelandic women cast votes in local elections before suffrage was formally granted. Their actions stemmed from a legal ambiguity between the Danish and Icelandic versions of the electoral law. At the time, Iceland was still under Danish rule. Danish law stated that “men” who met certain conditions could vote, clearly meaning males. But in Icelandic, the word maður (man) was often used more broadly to include both men and women.Three women, including one divorcée and two widows, interpreted the law in their favor. All were financially independent property owners. The best known among them was shopkeeper Vilhelmína Lever, who voted in Akureyri’s municipal election in 1863, twenty years before women were officially granted voting rights in local elections.
Vilhelmína Lever seen through the eyes of the artist Kristinn G. Jóhannsson.
Image of an election document showing that Vilhelmína Lever voted, while another woman who also had the right to vote did not.
From Voting Rights to Representation
From Voting Rights to Representation
From Voting Rights to Representation
“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.
“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.
“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.
The parliamentarians Svava Jakobsdóttir and Sigurlaug Bjarnadóttir delivered a speech to motivate the members of parliament on Women’s Day in 1975. Photographer: Unknown / 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.
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.
A Shift in the 1980s
A Shift in the 1980s
A Shift in the 1980s
It wasn’t until the 1980s that women began gaining real ground in Icelandic politics, due in large part to grassroots activism and persistent pressure both within and outside the political parties.
Within a decade, women’s representation rose from 5% to 21% in parliament and from 6% to 19% in local councils. By 1999, Iceland reached a new milestone: three women served as cabinet ministers for the first time.
Then, in the spring of 2009, the proportion of women in Alþingi surpassed 40% for the first time, jumping from 33% to 43%. That same year, women and men held an equal number of seats in the cabinet.
This progress helped catapult Iceland to the top of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index—a position the country has continued to hold. But the story also reminds us that Iceland’s path to equality has not always been ahead of the curve. In many cases, it has taken persistence, protest, and political will to catch up.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that women began gaining real ground in Icelandic politics, due in large part to grassroots activism and persistent pressure both within and outside the political parties.
Within a decade, women’s representation rose from 5% to 21% in parliament and from 6% to 19% in local councils. By 1999, Iceland reached a new milestone: three women served as cabinet ministers for the first time.
Then, in the spring of 2009, the proportion of women in Alþingi surpassed 40% for the first time, jumping from 33% to 43%. That same year, women and men held an equal number of seats in the cabinet.
This progress helped catapult Iceland to the top of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index—a position the country has continued to hold. But the story also reminds us that Iceland’s path to equality has not always been ahead of the curve. In many cases, it has taken persistence, protest, and political will to catch up.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that women began gaining real ground in Icelandic politics, due in large part to grassroots activism and persistent pressure both within and outside the political parties.
Within a decade, women’s representation rose from 5% to 21% in parliament and from 6% to 19% in local councils. By 1999, Iceland reached a new milestone: three women served as cabinet ministers for the first time.
Then, in the spring of 2009, the proportion of women in Alþingi surpassed 40% for the first time, jumping from 33% to 43%. That same year, women and men held an equal number of seats in the cabinet.
This progress helped catapult Iceland to the top of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index—a position the country has continued to hold. But the story also reminds us that Iceland’s path to equality has not always been ahead of the curve. In many cases, it has taken persistence, protest, and political will to catch up.
A statue of Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason unveiled in front of Alþingi in 2015, marking the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Iceland.
A statue of Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason unveiled in front of Alþingi in 2015, marking the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Iceland.
A statue of Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason unveiled in front of Alþingi in 2015, marking the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Iceland.
