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 Er kominn tími á Útlendingafrí? Marion Poilvez Skoðun Janus og jakkalakkarnir Óskar Guðmundsson Skoðun 1. maí er líka fyrir fatlað fólk! Geirdís Hanna Kristjánsdóttir Skoðun Verkalýðshreyfingin á næsta leik í Evrópuumræðunni Dagbjört Hákonardóttir Skoðun Á milli steins og sleggju Heinemann Ólafur Stephensen Skoðun Immigrant Women: Essential Workers, Rising Voices on Labor Day Maru Alemán Skoðun Allir eiga rétt á virku lífi — líka fatlað fólk Anna Margrét Bjarnadóttir Skoðun Samtalið um dauðann veldur okkur óöryggi Ingrid Kuhlman Skoðun Jafnréttisbaráttan er brýnni en nokkru sinni fyrr Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir,Sunna Kristín Símonardóttir Skoðun Hvað ætlar þú að vera þegar þú verður stór? Ása Berglind Hjálmarsdóttir Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Verkalýðshreyfingin, Dagbjört og ESB Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Börnin á Gasa Ebba Margrét Magnúsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Myndir þú ráða fatlað fólk í vinnu? Alma Ýr Ingólfsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvað ert þú að gera? Eiður Welding skrifar Skoðun Rauðir sokkar á 1. maí Sveinn Ólafsson skrifar Skoðun 1. maí er líka fyrir fatlað fólk! Geirdís Hanna Kristjánsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Verkalýðshreyfingin á næsta leik í Evrópuumræðunni Dagbjört Hákonardóttir skrifar Skoðun Á milli steins og sleggju Heinemann Ólafur Stephensen skrifar Skoðun Heiðrum íslenska hestinn Berglind Margo Þorvaldsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Allir eiga rétt á virku lífi — líka fatlað fólk Anna Margrét Bjarnadóttir skrifar Skoðun Er kominn tími á Útlendingafrí? Marion Poilvez skrifar Skoðun Janus og jakkalakkarnir Óskar Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Jafnréttisbaráttan er brýnni en nokkru sinni fyrr Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir,Sunna Kristín Símonardóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvað ætlar þú að vera þegar þú verður stór? Ása Berglind Hjálmarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Samtalið um dauðann veldur okkur óöryggi Ingrid Kuhlman skrifar Skoðun Sköpum störf við hæfi! Unnur Hrefna Jóhannsóttir skrifar Skoðun Immigrant Women: Essential Workers, Rising Voices on Labor Day Maru Alemán skrifar Skoðun Tikkað í skipulagsboxin Samúel Torfi Pétursson skrifar Skoðun Það sem er ósagt varðandi vinnubrögð hjá Háskólanum á Akureyri Þóra Sigurðardóttir skrifar Skoðun Sjúklingur settur í fangaklefa Arnar Þór Jónsson skrifar Skoðun Opið bréf til fjármálaráðherra, Daða Más Kristóferssonar Íris Róbertsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Ég kalla hann Isildur; mentorinn minn er gervigreind Björgmundur Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Hvað er „furry“ annars? Jóhanna Jódís Antonsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Jafnaðarmennskan og verkalýðsbaráttan Sigfús Ómar Höskuldsson skrifar Skoðun Hljóð og mynd íslenskra varna Arnór Sigurjónsson skrifar Skoðun Kveðjur úr Grafarvogi til þeirra sem kasta steinum úr glerhúsi Davíð Már Sigurðsson skrifar Skoðun Leiðsöguhundurinn Gaur gerir mig að betri manneskju Þorkell J. Steindal skrifar Skoðun Fimmtíu ár frá lokum Víetnamstríðsins Finnur Th. Eiríksson skrifar Skoðun Að undirbúa börnin okkar fyrir heim sem er að hverfa Halldóra Mogensen skrifar Skoðun Hollar skólamáltíðir fyrir loftslagið og líðan barna Laufey Steingrímsdóttir,Anna Sigríður Ólafsdóttir 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
Jafnréttisbaráttan er brýnni en nokkru sinni fyrr Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir,Sunna Kristín Símonardóttir Skoðun
Skoðun Jafnréttisbaráttan er brýnni en nokkru sinni fyrr Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir,Sunna Kristín Símonardóttir skrifar
Skoðun Það sem er ósagt varðandi vinnubrögð hjá Háskólanum á Akureyri Þóra Sigurðardóttir skrifar
Skoðun Hollar skólamáltíðir fyrir loftslagið og líðan barna Laufey Steingrímsdóttir,Anna Sigríður Ólafsdóttir skrifar
Jafnréttisbaráttan er brýnni en nokkru sinni fyrr Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir,Sunna Kristín Símonardóttir Skoðun