Women in Iceland Left Work Three Hours Early to Protest the Gender Wage Gap

Women worldwide have bonded over protesting against gender pay gaps in the workplace, so much so that as of this time last year, a poll showed women under 35 as being more positive about women's work equality. Despite all of this awesome sisterhood dedicated to making change, the work toward equality is far from over, as seen this week in Iceland when thousands of women left work three hours early to protest the gender wage gap. 

The Iceland Review reports that the women left work at 2:38 p.m. and flooded the streets in honor of the country's Women's Day Off. In 1975, so many women were speaking out against the pay gap that shops and factories had to close for the day. Today, the event is remembered for proving just how essential women are to the duties of everyday life. For this week's protest, unions and women's organizations emphasized leaving at a specific time to also highlight the fact that, when compared to men's wages, women work without receiving pay following that time on a daily basis. 

The last Women's Day Off protest occurred in 2008, when women walked out of work at 2:25 p.m., suggesting that if this trend of adding time continues, equal pay won't be reached until 2068. "No one puts up with waiting 50 years to reach a goal," said Gylfi Arnbjörnsson, the president of the Icelandic Confederation of Labor, according to The Iceland Review. "It's just unacceptable to say we'll correct this in 50 years. That's a lifetime."

The women have the support of at least one government official, Eygló Harðardóttir, who's the Icelandic Minister for Social Affairs and Housing. After confirming with the Iceland Monitor that she would attend the protest, Harðardóttir said, "But I hope that everybody—men and women—will be there. Even though today is about women, it is important to stress that the most important thing is for society as a whole to be aware of the issue of gender wage gaps and to show solidarity."

Although Iceland is actually one of the top countries expected to close its gender pay gap first, the data showing that this may not happen until 2068 is disappointing. However, a recent American Association of University Women (AAUW) report shows that, in the United States, the pay gap won't even close until 2152. Here's hoping that this isn't the case and that we use these Icelandic women as inspiration to work towards achieving equality far, far sooner.