How to close the gender wage gap
How to close the gender wage gap Social Europe
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Iceland’s Progress in Narrowing the Gender Wage Gap
Last year’s Women’s Strike in Iceland
Last year, a 24-hour women’s strike was organized in Iceland to protest against the gender pay gap and gender-based violence. Thousands gathered in central Reykjavík to demonstrate their solidarity.
Iceland’s Ranking in Gender Equality
Iceland has consistently ranked at the top in terms of gender equality. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023, Iceland has closed more than 90% of its gender gap, making it the only country to achieve this milestone. The Economist‘s glass-ceiling index also rates Iceland as the best place in the world for women in the workforce. However, Icelanders believe that any wage gap is still too large.
Changed Expectations
In her Nobel Prize-winning research, Harvard economist Claudia Goldin highlights the role of changing expectations in narrowing the wage gap between men and women. In the United States, the share of young women expecting to be employed at age 35 increased significantly from 33% to 80% between 1967 and 1989.
Birth Control and Women’s Empowerment
Artificial contraception, by enabling women to delay marriage and childrearing, has played a significant role in empowering women. It allows them to invest more in their education and career prospects, leading to greater gender equality in the workforce.
The Stalled Progress in the United States
While progress has been made in narrowing the gender wage gap in the United States, it has stalled in recent years. In 2022, women in the US earned an average of 82 cents for every dollar earned by men. The gap among Americans with advanced degrees has remained largely unchanged since 2005.
Lessons from Iceland
Iceland’s experience offers important lessons on how to narrow the gender wage gap. The country has implemented policies that have greatly improved women’s career prospects:
- Substantial investment in government-subsidized preschool education.
- 12 months of paid childbirth leave shared equally between parents.
- Legislation requiring companies listed on the Icelandic stock exchange to have at least 40% women on their boards of directors.
Enduring Inequalities
Despite Iceland’s progress, the gender pay gap still exists. In 2019, the adjusted gap was 4.3%, meaning that women were paid, on average, 4.3% less than men simply because of their gender. Women also face challenges in balancing work and family responsibilities, and they experience higher rates of gender-based violence.
The Importance of Gender Equality
Gender equality is not only a matter of fairness but also crucial for societal development. Denying women equal opportunities hinders progress. Achieving true gender parity and maintaining it requires ongoing efforts.
About the Author
Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir is the Minister of Culture and Business Affairs of Iceland. She has been a member of the Althingi for the Progressive Party since 2016. She has played a key role in advancing gender equality in Iceland.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
- Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family
- Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce, and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex
- Indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work
- Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere | Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce, and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family | Indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work |
| Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life | Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments |
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Fuente: socialeurope.eu
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