Reading J.M. Sorrell’s March 1 column entitled “Sprakkar Splendor” leaves one with an incomplete picture of the status of women in Iceland.
Having visited there with a Swedish friend in the spring of 2019, I was pleased to learn about some of the facts that the article extols including advances in thermal energy production and the absence of a military. Gender equity gains are cited as a significant achievement and there are numerous examples that could have been mentioned including the representation of women in government.
However, once again “all that glitters is not gold” as a recent article entitled, “‘The World’s Best Place to Be a Woman’ Is Being Sued for Misogyny,” by Ivanka Kottasová via CNN conveys. In addition to highlighting the case of the woman who is suing based on her having been a victim of domestic violence, the article cites a study of 30,000 Icelandic woman, 25% of whom have experienced rape or attempted rape and 40% of whom have been the victims of physical or sexual violence.
No, we can’t accept “boys will be boys” and we must intervene with the youngest boys to un-enculturate them, here, in Iceland and everywhere else to respect, honor and support women in this Women’s History Month and all year round. The workshop I co-facilitate for preschool teachers and parents — way too many of whom are women! — entitled “Developing Healthy Boys,” does just that and I’ve reached out to the women in the CNN article who have responded encouragingly to partnering.
Iceland is to be recognized, but they’re not there yet, nor are we.
Thomas Weiner
Northampton