Iceland is considered a model for the equality of the sexes. But, says the Prime Minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, in the DW-Interview prior to the “2018 Women Leaders Global Forum” your country also have to fight for it.
DW: Of Island it is, it is the country with the largest gender-equality in the world. Would you agree with that?
Katrin Jakobsdottir: I have often said that we are proud to be at the top of the “Global Gender Gap List” of the world economic forum. Iceland women know very well that we stated in, such as: “gender Paradise”, still a lot of work ahead of us.
Although there are gradual differences in terms of equal treatment of women in Iceland and other parts of the world, is the nature of the discrimination is always the same. The Gender Pay Gap exists even in Iceland. Women do not have the same Power in the business and financial world, and we also have a serious Problem with gender-based violence, sexual violence and harassment in Iceland, as it has recently in the #MeToo debate revealed.
Katrin Jakobsdottir: The mother of three children, is since 2017, the Prime Minister of Iceland.
They think that what their country has accomplished in the equal treatment of the sexes, is sufficient?
No. The fight for gender equality is not over, until we have eradicated gender-based discrimination in Iceland and around the world. Although we have set a milestone, may we never think that we are targets because of these milestones, or certain already achieved, it should allow us to fight for gender equality with a reduced force.
I see the fight for women’s rights not as a task, when it comes to individual points to tick off. Rather, it is a battle for fundamental human rights and calls for a change in our cultures: We need to change the way we look at each other, and treat. This is not a task for a Generation, but for many. And I would like to go back and say look I’ve paid my dues and that has taken care of my government for progress and not step backwards.
Icelanders were active in the #MeToo movement, as thousands have shared their experiences with sexual harassment and Assault in social media. Their stories show that a cultural change on many levels of society is pending. Would you agree with that?
Yes. The #MeToo movement has revealed systematic harassment, violence and everyday sexism faced by women in all strata of Icelandic society. A recent study of over 24,000 Icelanders interior suggests that one in four women has been raped or a rape attempt was exposed. An open dialogue about violence against women is likely to lead to even more women talk about their experiences. All of this should be the case in the “country with the greatest gender equality around the world”, we can imagine how it is elsewhere, it must be. I believe that this is one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time. To end violence against women, we need to eliminate inequalities between men and women, so that all genders can thrive.
#MeToo-movement has moved the issue of sexual harassment and the experiences of many women in the focus of those calling for a change – not only in Iceland but also in other countries. How can that have a positive and lasting effect?
One of the things that the #MeToo-teaches movement, is that the oppression of women goes on in silence in front of you: When we get up and make it clear that we tolerate certain behaviors any longer, nothing will change. We remain calm, women will continue to suffer. #MeToo-Revolution has achieved a huge amount of attention-and, hopefully, we can now realize the necessary change must look like.
As part of our presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in the coming year, we will be holding in September 2019, an International conference to the topic, what’s the #MeToo-brought movement. The questions will be: Why is #MeToo right now, and why the effect in different countries is so different? What tells us the counter-movement to #MeToo about the current gender policy? I hope the conference attracts thinkers, activists, and politicians from all over the world, so that we can use the power of #MeToo optimally and to benefit from a permanent and positive social change.
In different countries, the #MeToo was taken-motion different. A conference in Iceland to investigate the reasons.
There are now gender quotas in Icelandic companies, to ensure that women are fairly represented and their government introduces a law to equal pay. It aims to ensure that by 2022 of men and women in private and public companies for comparable work in a comparable wage is paid. Why does it take so long?
It is interesting that while we have countless studies that show that diversity in leadership bodies is not only the right way, but also good for business, the business world is moving. In spite of the quotas for women, men still dominate in Supervisory boards and in senior Management of the largest companies in Iceland.
There is still this persistent Gender Pay Gap of about 4.5 per cent in Iceland – and we’re talking about the already-adapted content difference, i.e.: “equal pay for equal work”. To remedy is our newest weapon to the Gender Pay Gap is that companies must prove they pay men and women equal. This leads to Changes in the salary structures of the companies, organisations and authorities, because the now have to figure out that you have to pay women worse. But I am also interested in the non-adjusted General Gender Pay Gap between men and women, because we are told how our society is structured, what work we value and what is low.
You look at Europe, it is evident that women in politics and the economy are under-represented. What can women do to change this?
We should approach this from a common perspective: from a male and from a female point of view. What can we do as a society, do together? Lack of representation is not only a women thing. We should ask ourselves: What can men do? Now that could make in order to begin to acknowledge that gender equality is not yet achieved, and that they can play a role in the change: their share, we need to redress inequality and to bring more women to the table. The Women Leaders the Global Forum, which will meet in this and in the next three years, in Iceland, is an important platform as we do the next steps.
Then, we must appeal constantly to a lack of representation of women and inequality to the disadvantage of women in other areas. Violence against women is an obstacle to the participation of women in Public and harassment on the Internet can also be used as a weapon to women to keep from the Public.
Four-in-chief of the interior: Katrin Jakobsdottir, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Croatian President Grabar-Kitarovic and Serbian Premierministarin Brnabic
Another key factor is female representation in the Public is their financial independence. And because women still carry the main part of the domestic work and responsibility for children, family policy is crucial for the possibilities of the participation of women in economy and politics. I have always said that I would not be where I am now, without the split option to the parents of the time (with the condition for the fathers: Take-it-or forget it! Either the father goes in Parental leave, or he gets no support) and the community children’s supervision. Whenever a politician asks, what was the liberation of women is important, I answer: daycare places for children and parents, time!
The deutssche Bundedskanzlerin Angela Merkel is often described as one of the most influential policy Innenin in the world. Now she has announced that the presidency in your party. You think, Mrs Merkel has changed the view on female politicians?
Chancellor Merkel is, in my view, one of the most influential politicians of our time, and so it will remain in your memory. Although role models are important, I believe that women are best promoted by movements. I don’t think a woman can lead to a point about change. But we are all part of the change, and I hope that we will continue to move in the right direction.
Katrin Jakobsdottir, since 2017, the Prime Minister of Iceland.
The questions put to Manuela Kasper-Claridge.