H. Aspelund: Gender equality is about more for all but not less for some

By Harald Aspelund, Ambassador of Iceland in Helsinky. H. Aspelund shared his insights during panel discussion "Peace as a prerequisite for human rights, welfare, and gender equality" in 28 March, 2023 in Vilnius.

Equality in general is a prerequisite for a peaceful society. And with gender equality, it is less likely that conflict disproportionately harms women and, it is also less likely that we will have a conflict, in the first place.

Iceland has been at the top of World Economic Forum’s list for gender equality for 13 years now. And we are often asked to explain why.

No magic solution

I believe that the biggest barriers for gender equality are the deep-rooted norms in our societies. These norms will not be changed overnight. Many would think that Iceland would have a magic solution but there is no magic. There is no secret – every country can succeed – if its politicians and people have the courage to walk the walk and don’t just talk the talk.

The main lesson learned in Iceland is that gender equality does not come about of its own accord. It requires hard work and the collective action and the solidarity of civil society, political will.

Even though Iceland has come further than many others, we still have our weaknesses. I would say that our biggest and most difficult weakness or barrier is the gender segregated labour market. We still have so called typical women's jobs and man’s jobs. And the women’s jobs tend to be valued less, with lower salaries. 

The turning point

I strongly believe that gender equality will not be fully achieved until men will understand that they will benefit from it. The human being is not perfect and deep inside, we always ask ourselves, what is in it for me?

We tend to become so defensive of what we have, that we do not see how much we can gain from the changes.

Gender equality is about more for all but not less for some. You do not have to be genius to understand that economies and societies gain from full participation by all its citizens.

When men will understand that they will only win but not loose, they will start fighting for gender equality. And how do we make them understand? It is a long journey, and you must start somewhere.  

The turning point in Iceland was on October 24th 1975 on the The Women‘s Day Off , when Icelandic women showed in a highly symbolic way their contribution to society. Ninety per cent of them refused to work, cook or look after children during that day. More than 25 thousand women assembled in the Reykjavík City Centre to mark the occasion, in speeches, songs and performances. It was a great success as it completely paralyzed the society. It proved what everyone already knew but was not ready to recognize; that women are no less important than men in modern society and the economy! 

This activism organized by women from all political parties and different organizations resulted in the country's largest political rally at that time and had, without doubt, a deciding influence on the election of the first woman President of Iceland five years later.  

Changing norms with paternity leave

Possibly the most important measures is the paternity leave. And the most important part of it is the fact that the law did not only give fathers the possibility to take parental leave – it expected them to do so – they could not write the period over to the mother.

I would like to share with you my personal experience. This change took effect 21 years ago and I was one of the first male Icelandic diplomats abroad to use this right when my daughter Soley was born 21 years ago. Earlier, the few female diplomats that had children when posted abroad, were under a great pressure not to take maternity leave. The same happened to me. I thought about it and felt the responsibility I had, being one of the first to implement this important change. Responsibility towards my family, my workplace and the society.  And I took the leave and I have never regretted it. One year later my son Kristofer was born, and I took a leave again. These were the best times of my live.

I was not the only one struggling with this. This changed certain norms in our society.

Today 21 years later the right to take a parental leave is not questioned. Most of us do it, both man and women. And it is no longer riskier to hire a young woman than a young man.

And another important effect is the fact that men like me get the training in sharing the responsibility for the care-giving jobs at home. And we are more likely to want to stay at home with our sick child than before.

Studies show that the law has changed ideas about masculinities among young people – all of this indicates that before the introduction of the paternity leave, the relatively little participation of men in care of their own children may have been due to the lack of social opportunities, rather than the lack of interest or abilities. This was another important step towards changing the norms.

A recent law on equal pay for jobs of equal value was also a very important step. These were just examples of these many steps that need to be taken in this long journey of achieving gender equality and making all of us believe in it and understand how much is at stake for all of us, not only women.

Changing norms requires persistence and patience.