With feminist issues hitting headlines daily, it is glaringly obvious that women are still being treated differently at work and within society in comparison to their male counterparts.
But while most women recognise the existence of a gender pay gap, not all of us have physically taken to the streets in search of change.
On Monday, Icelandic women went about countering that system by walking out of work at 2.38pm, cutting their working day by 14 percent to reflect the fact that on average women in Iceland earn 14-18 percent less than men.
Women in Iceland come together to fight for equality, shouting OUT #kvennafrí #womensrights pic.twitter.com/vTPFwfSoVk
— Salka Sól Eyfeld (@salkadelasol) October 24, 2016
Thousands of women gathered in Reykjavik’s main square after leaving their places of work.
Many took to Twitter to document the protest with powerful videos, statements and images.
My daughter Margrét (11) marching w all the women of Iceland today,demanding equal pay. They all quit work symbolically at 14:38. #kvennafri pic.twitter.com/SrqVSkHC2F
— Hallgrímur Helgason (@HalgrimHelgason) October 24, 2016
Out with the patriarchy!#kvennafri pic.twitter.com/Jq31LAWT3U
— Halldóra Mogensen (@Halldoramog) October 24, 2016
Icelandic women have gone on strike today!#kvennafrí #Reykjavík #iceland pic.twitter.com/rTtWsMLnuR
— Seth Sharp (@sharpseth) October 24, 2016
The country has a strong history of women demanding equality. On October 24 1975, 90 percent of the country’s female citizens went on strike by refusing to work, cook or provide childcare.
Up until that point only nine women had ever won seats in Iceland’s parliament. Five years later the country made Vigdis Finnbogadottir its – and Europe’s – first female president.
Why thousands of Icelandic women left work at 2:38pm
