We Are Icelanders Too: The Fight for Equality and Recognition for Women of Foreign Origin in Iceland Mouna Nasr skrifar 8. mars 2025 13:16 On March 8, International Women’s Day, we celebrate the strength and achievements of women worldwide. But for women of foreign origin in Iceland, this day is also a reminder that despite our contributions to society, we remain underpaid, undervalued, and too often unseen. President Halla Tómasdóttir once said that those of us who have made Iceland our home—immigrants, refugees, and people of foreign origin—are part of this nation. As “Icelanders of foreign origin” we are Icelanders too. Yet, our lived reality does not always reflect this recognition. If we are truly part of this society, then we must be heard, seen, and treated as equals. Persistent Gaps and Systemic Barriers Iceland has long been a global leader in gender equality. Yet for women of foreign origin, our gap to equality is widened not only by our gender but additionally by all the characteristics associated with our origin. Many of us hold degrees, professional experience, and valuable skills, yet we are too often pushed into low-wage jobs that do not reflect our qualifications. Many migrant women are limited to industries with difficult conditions, are high-risk for job insecurity, and have little to no meaningful opportunity for job alternatives. Language barriers, lack of recognition for foreign credentials, and systemic biases keep us from advancing in our careers. Then for those of us who come from war zones, we carry the added weight of trauma and displacement, yet lacking support for our mental well-being too often hinders our ability to fully participate in society. These issues then carry into governance. While Iceland is at an unprecedented time in history for women - we have a woman elected President, a woman as Prime Minister, a woman as Mayor for our capital city, a woman as Bishop, a woman as National Police commissioner, and almost half of our elected MPs at the Alþingi are women - not a single woman of foreign origin sits in parliament to represent our voice. We Are Here—It’s Time to Hear Us If Iceland truly values equality, then it must extend that commitment to all women. This means: Fair wages for all women, regardless of origin: Equal work must mean equal pay. Recognition of foreign qualifications and potential: No woman should be forced into underemployment because her education is ignored, or her capabilities are underestimated. Access to leadership and career opportunities:. We should have practical paths and options in the labour market - not to be permanently trapped in the lowest-paying jobs. Support for mental health and well-being: Women, especially those who have fled conflict and hardship, need sufficient resources to heal and thrive. Democratic Representation: No woman should be left behind in the decision and policy-making in their own community. Iceland cannot maintain our status as a global leader of gender equality if it does not invest in the success and empowerment of all women. If we are part of this society, then our struggles must be addressed. Our voices must be heard. We are not outsiders—we are Icelanders too. On this International Women’s Day, I am an Icelander of foreign origin. I refuse to be invisible. I live in Iceland. I contribute to Iceland. I belong in Iceland. And I will be seen. — The author is the Chair of W.O.M.E.N. - Samtök kvenna af erlendum uppruna Viltu birta grein á Vísi? Sendu okkur póst. Senda grein Mest lesið ‘Vók’ er djók Alexandra Briem Skoðun Opið bréf til Friðriks Þórs Steven Meyers,Guðrún Elsa Bragadóttir,Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir,Brúsi Ólason,Erlendur Sveinsson,Heather Millard Skoðun Þjóðarmorðið í blokkinni Bjarni Þór Sigurbjörnsson Skoðun Skjólveggur af körlum og ungum mönnum Ólafur Elínarson Skoðun Breiðholtið er frábært! Gerum betur í umfjöllun og orðræðu Kristín Dögg Kristinsdóttir Skoðun Eru græn svæði í útrýmingarhættu í Reykjavík? Sigrún Ásta Einarsdóttir Skoðun Ég hataði rafíþróttir! Þorvaldur Daníelsson Skoðun Því miður hefur lítið breyst Áslaug Hulda Jónsdóttir Skoðun Versta sem Ísland gæti gert Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson Skoðun Kattahald Jökull Jörgensen Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Hlustum á náttúruna Svandís Svavarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Skattheimta sem markmið í sjálfu sér Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Tæknin hjálpar lesblindum Guðmundur S. Johnsen skrifar Skoðun Tryggja þarf aðkomu sjómanna að fiskveiðiráðgjöfinni Sigurjón Þórðarson skrifar Skoðun Opið bréf til Friðriks Þórs Steven Meyers,Guðrún Elsa Bragadóttir,Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir,Brúsi Ólason,Erlendur Sveinsson,Heather Millard skrifar Skoðun Skjólveggur af körlum og ungum mönnum Ólafur Elínarson skrifar Skoðun Menntamál eru ekki afgangsstærð Hólmfríður Jennýjar Árnadóttir skrifar Skoðun ‘Vók’ er djók Alexandra Briem skrifar Skoðun Er friður tálsýn eða verkefni? Inga Daníelsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Kattahald Jökull Jörgensen skrifar Skoðun Framtíðin er rafmögnuð Jóhanna Hlín Auðunsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Ekki biðja um undanþágur heldur krefjast réttar samkvæmt EES-samningnum Erna Bjarnadóttir skrifar Skoðun Þjóðarmorðið í blokkinni Bjarni Þór Sigurbjörnsson skrifar Skoðun Breiðholtið er frábært! Gerum betur í umfjöllun og orðræðu Kristín Dögg Kristinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Ég hataði rafíþróttir! Þorvaldur Daníelsson skrifar Skoðun Því miður hefur lítið breyst Áslaug Hulda Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Versta sem Ísland gæti gert Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Eru græn svæði í útrýmingarhættu í Reykjavík? Sigrún Ásta Einarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Efla á forvarnir og setja börn í öndvegi með 5,7 milljarða niðurskurði Grímur Atlason skrifar Skoðun „...ég lærði líka að nota gagnrýna hugsun“ Hanna Björg Vilhjálmsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Risastór niðurskurður ríkistjórnarinnar er áfall fyrir foreldra og börn í landinu Sigurður Sigurðsson skrifar Skoðun Látið okkur í friði Vilhjálmur Árnason skrifar Skoðun Gefðu fimmu! Ágúst Arnar Þráinsson skrifar Skoðun Allar hendur á dekk! Oddný G. Harðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Engin sátt án sannmælis Kristinn Karl Brynjarsson skrifar Skoðun Að finna rétt veiðigjald... Bolli Héðinsson skrifar Skoðun Hvað viltu að samskiptin á vinnustaðnum kosti? Carmen Maja Valencia skrifar Skoðun Stórt inngrip í rekstur íþróttafélaga! Jóhanna Dýrunn Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Börn voga sér inn í afbrotaheim fullorðinna eða er það öfugt? Davíð Bergmann skrifar Skoðun Sósíalistaflokkurinn verður að snúast um meira en rassgatið á Gunnari Smára Trausti Breiðfjörð Magnússon skrifar Sjá meira
On March 8, International Women’s Day, we celebrate the strength and achievements of women worldwide. But for women of foreign origin in Iceland, this day is also a reminder that despite our contributions to society, we remain underpaid, undervalued, and too often unseen. President Halla Tómasdóttir once said that those of us who have made Iceland our home—immigrants, refugees, and people of foreign origin—are part of this nation. As “Icelanders of foreign origin” we are Icelanders too. Yet, our lived reality does not always reflect this recognition. If we are truly part of this society, then we must be heard, seen, and treated as equals. Persistent Gaps and Systemic Barriers Iceland has long been a global leader in gender equality. Yet for women of foreign origin, our gap to equality is widened not only by our gender but additionally by all the characteristics associated with our origin. Many of us hold degrees, professional experience, and valuable skills, yet we are too often pushed into low-wage jobs that do not reflect our qualifications. Many migrant women are limited to industries with difficult conditions, are high-risk for job insecurity, and have little to no meaningful opportunity for job alternatives. Language barriers, lack of recognition for foreign credentials, and systemic biases keep us from advancing in our careers. Then for those of us who come from war zones, we carry the added weight of trauma and displacement, yet lacking support for our mental well-being too often hinders our ability to fully participate in society. These issues then carry into governance. While Iceland is at an unprecedented time in history for women - we have a woman elected President, a woman as Prime Minister, a woman as Mayor for our capital city, a woman as Bishop, a woman as National Police commissioner, and almost half of our elected MPs at the Alþingi are women - not a single woman of foreign origin sits in parliament to represent our voice. We Are Here—It’s Time to Hear Us If Iceland truly values equality, then it must extend that commitment to all women. This means: Fair wages for all women, regardless of origin: Equal work must mean equal pay. Recognition of foreign qualifications and potential: No woman should be forced into underemployment because her education is ignored, or her capabilities are underestimated. Access to leadership and career opportunities:. We should have practical paths and options in the labour market - not to be permanently trapped in the lowest-paying jobs. Support for mental health and well-being: Women, especially those who have fled conflict and hardship, need sufficient resources to heal and thrive. Democratic Representation: No woman should be left behind in the decision and policy-making in their own community. Iceland cannot maintain our status as a global leader of gender equality if it does not invest in the success and empowerment of all women. If we are part of this society, then our struggles must be addressed. Our voices must be heard. We are not outsiders—we are Icelanders too. On this International Women’s Day, I am an Icelander of foreign origin. I refuse to be invisible. I live in Iceland. I contribute to Iceland. I belong in Iceland. And I will be seen. — The author is the Chair of W.O.M.E.N. - Samtök kvenna af erlendum uppruna
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