Proceed With Caution

October 24 was Women's Day Off in Iceland. On that day, organizations encouraged women to leave work at 2:08 p.m., when 64.15% of the work day was complete, to signify that a woman's salary in Iceland is 64.15% of her male counterpart. Other reasons for the strike:

women get 72% of men's salary for working the same number of hours

having children has a negative effect on women's salary, but a positive effect on men's

many women live in fear and insecurity in their own homes

one out of three women becomes victim of gender related violence in her lifetime

women do not get credit due for their education

women in business have less access to finance

responsibility for upbringing of children and domestic work is still largely on women's shoulders

jobs involving caretaking are among the lowest paying jobs in the job market

women's voice is still not loud enough in the media

women's bodies are treated as merchandise

a woman has never been prime minister, bank manager or bishop

women have never occupied half the seats in parliament

women are not treated as equal to men

Doesn't sound too different than in the U.S. does it? Can you imagine if every women you know decided to not show up for work today? I know that I am cynical, jaded and apparently somewhat of a chauvinist because I picture a day without women as being chaotic, frenzied, disorganized and in the end, unfinished. But a day without men? I see something completely different. Peace, order, resourcefulness, camaraderie. You?