Iceland, Fierce Compassion in the Age of Disco

Iceland, 1975.

On one October day, almost every woman – 90% of them – did not show up to work: to their jobs, to clean their homes, to care for their babies. They did this to protest low wages and undervalued work. Newspapers were not printed since the typesetters were women, and there was no telephone service. Schools were closed, flights were cancelled and bank branches closed. The country came to a standstill.

The following year, Iceland passed the Gender Equality Act, which outlawed gender discrimination in workplaces and schools. Five years later, they elected their first female president, a single mother.

And a young Icelandic boy, who saw former president walking with Ronald Reagan said “he can’t be the President of the United States! He’s a boy!

Look what we can do when we stand in our fierce compassion.