Women's Day Off - A Real Life Story

On the crisp morning of October 24, 1975, something extraordinary happened in Iceland. The women of the nation decided they’d had enough—enough of being underpaid, undervalued, and overworked. But instead of quietly enduring, they chose action. They called it “Women’s Day Off.”

Only, this wasn’t a day of pampering at the spa or curling up with a book. It was a strike. Across the country, women put down their tools at work and at home. No offices staffed, no classrooms run, no meals cooked, no children tended. For one day, Iceland watched as women collectively pressed pause on society.

And what a pause it was. Offices scrambled to cover tasks. Schools shut down. Fathers stumbled through childcare—so much so that hot dog stands nearly ran out of sausages, as bewildered dads discovered that feeding kids wasn’t quite as easy as it looked. I can almost imagine those naughty women laughing in a corner as everything wobbled. But I love it.

The message was undeniable: women’s work—paid and unpaid—was not invisible. It was, in fact, the backbone of the nation. And when that backbone went on strike, everything else wobbled. The impact was immediate. Within a year, Iceland banned gender-based pay discrimination. A few years later, the country made history by electing the world’s first female president. All because women chose not to suffer in silence.

The lesson is clear: real change begins when those most affected make their voices heard. Advocacy is the bridge between the way things are and the way they should be. Sometimes it takes disruption to reveal the gap—and courage to demand it be closed.

That’s why our Women in Leadership Coalition—WIMBIZ, WILAN, WISCAR & NGF—is committed to pushing forward with a bold agenda (also see attached):

• 35% female representation on boards and in executive management.

• 16 weeks maternity leave and 2 weeks paternity leave—because caregiving is a shared responsibility.

• 35% female representation in state and federal cabinets.

Like the women of Iceland in 1975, we know that advocacy is not just about speaking—it’s about shifting systems Together. And when women stand together, nations move forward. #Collaboration

Do you stand with this 3-point agenda? Comment below to signify Yes, No, and Why.