The kneeling protests, at their core, are protesting murder. Rather than co-opting a black protest and drowning out their issue, why not look to a protest from another country: the incredibly effective Iceland Women's Strike. Warning: history incoming! 1/8
Though women in Iceland got the vote in 1915, they otherwise struggled to achieve parity. In 1970, the Icelandic feminist group Red Stockings proposed that women go on strike. But most women felt this was too radical and confrontational. 2/8
The idea floated around for years. Then in 1975, someone got the idea to call it "Women's Day Off." And suddenly, the idea caught fire. On October 24, 90% of women left cooking, child care and jobs to the men and joined their sisters in the streets. 3/8
P.S. This shows the power of reframing an idea. 4/8
Men took their children to work, turning conference rooms into impromptu child care centers. Most men weren't ready to cook for their families. Gender roles at home were very "Leave it to Beaver." Grocery stores across the country sold out of sausages (men could grill). 5/8
Businesses closed for the day; without women, they couldn't keep up. And suddenly, men realized just how much work women were doing, at home and at the office. 6/8
In 1975, Iceland only had three female members of Parliament, way below the Nordic average. By 1980, they'd elected their first female Prime Minister - the first for any country. She stayed in the role for 16 years. 7/8
In 1975, Iceland was behind many countries when it came to women's rights. It's now the most feminist country in the world. And Women's Day Off ignited that transformation. 8/8
