Lögberg-Heimskringla - 31.10.1980, Blaðsíða 3

WINNIPEG, FÖSTUDAGUR 31, OKTÓBER 1980-3
A few points on the status of women in Nordic countries
continued from page 2
1911, relatively fewer Icelandic
women earn academic degrees than do
women from other Nordic countries.
But the number is increasing rapidly.
Adult education has gained in
popularity amongst women of all Nor-
dic countries.
Women in the church:
A few words about women in the
church. The question of whether
women should be ordained was hotly
debated. Now there are women min-
isters of the state church in all the Nor-
dic countries except Finland. Only one
woman has been ordained in Iceland.
She had difficulty in getting elected in
big urban congregations and is now
serving a small rural congregation
where she has been well received:
The subject of women in politics is of
interest. In September of 1979 a con-
vention of the Nordic Union of
Women's Rights Organizations, held in
Copenhagen adopted the following re-
solution:
"The Nordic Women's Organiza-
tions consider it as an increasing threat
against freedom and democracy how
unequal the role of men is to that of
women in decision-making all over the
Nordic countries. It will no longer be
endured that men alone make all the
important decisions in society, they
should rather be made equally by
women as well as men." -
"Gigi" to be shown
The LADIES AUXILIARY OF THE
BRANDEIS LODGE will present
"GIGI" with Maurice Chevalier &
Leslie Caron on Saturday, November
lst, at 8:30 p.m. in the Planetarium
Auditorium, Main & Rupert. Coffee
and refreshments included. Tickets
available at the door.
Nelson Gerrard kennari í Árborg
hitti þarna marga of nemendum
sínum. Með honum á myndinni
er Lynne Erickson
Frá hægri til vinstri. Melvin
Mclnnis, Julie McConnel, Glen
Jakobson, Elaina og Jim Marks.
Women in parliament:
The proportion of women in the
parliaments and in the cabinets of the
Nordic countries is as follows:
Country: Sweden; Parliament: 26.4
pqrcent; Cabinet: 25.0 percent;
Finland, 26.0 percent, 11.8 percent;
Denmark, 17.1 percent, 14.3 percent;
Faroe Islands, 6.2 percent, 0; Iceland,
5.0 percent, 0.
It is difficult to explain why there are
so few women in the parliament in Ice-
land. The smallness of the society may
be the chief reason. Ingunn Norderval
Means attributes it also to the "cultural
norm of modesty which prevails in all
the Scandinavian societies, in politics
as in other human relations. One must
appear, if not disinterested, then at
least not too eager, for a job, promotion
or office. For women, this norm of
modesty is reinforced by the cultural
definition of femininity, which still en-
tails passivity rather than boldness."
In a small society such as Iceland the
force of these factors is increased
because everybody knows everybody
else and hence all are more sensitive to
the opinons of others.
The key to improving and increasing
the political participation of women is
in the hands of women themselves.
They cannot unite within any one
political party but they can unite effec-
tively in other ways. This was done in
Iceland in 1907 shortly after women
were given voting rights in municipal
elections. On that occasion there was a
women's list of four candidates and
four were chosen because a majority of
women voted for them. In Norway in
1974 election rules permitted the elec-
tors to vote not only for a list of can-
didates presented by a political party
but also to show preference for per-
sons on other lists. This was skillfully
used by interested women to set up a
plan which resulted in a coup whereby
Þessi mynd þarfnast ekki skýr-
inga.
Tom Smith og Annie. Ekki vitum
við eftirnafn Annie.
L-H "Social" fyrir unga fólkið
Meðfylgjandi myndir voru teknar í lok ágústmánaðar á balli, sem blaðið hélt
fyrir ungt fólk af ísl. ættum hér í vVinnipeg. Aðal driffjöðrin í þessu samkomu-
haldi var Glen Jakobson frá Neepawa, sem vann hjá blaðinu í sumar. Glen
hóaði saman um 100 ísl. unglingum frá Winnipeg og nágrannabyggðum og
skemmtu allir sér konunglega. Inn slæddust líka gestir sem ekki eru lengur á létt-
asta skeiði. Þeir voru þó varla eins liprir í dansinum og þeir yngri, enda látum við
nægja að birta myndir af þeim yngri.
the majority of women of different
political leanings were elected. The
rules were subsequently changed.
Social attitudes:
I refer now to the topic of the attitude
towards women in society. An old and
persistent custom in Iceland, now
sanctioned by law, is not to use family
names but to name a child with his or
her Christian name followed by the
father's name and the suffix of son or
daughter. Thus Gudrun, the daughter
of Jon, would be called Gudrun Jons-
dottir and would retain that name even
after marriage. She might also, if she
wished, use the middle initial A. to in-
dicate that she was the daughter of
Anna.
On sex discrimination:
An Icelandic law passed in 1975 pro-
hibits referring to sex in advertise-
ments concerning vacant jobs. Thus
the job is for neither a man or a woman
but for a person.
Although not all of the countries rep-
resented in the Nordic Council agree
on the need for further legislation on
safeguarding the equality of the sexes,
Thorvaldson awarded
Dr. of Philosophy
Sveinn Albert Thorvaldson of Win-
nipeg has been awarded his Doctor of
Philosophy degree in criminology at
the University of Cambridge, England.
He is currently Director of Research
with the Ministry of the Attorney-
General in British Columbia.
the Council has adopted a resolution to
that effect. The Council gathers infor-
mation on the status of women and
makes it readily accessible. In 1975
and 1976 a small exhibition was set up
in several countries which highlighted
the history of women in the Nordic
countries and their achievements. A
more comprehensive history is now in
preparation.
In Iceland and Norway there are
general statutes on the equality be-
tween men and women. In Sweden a
bill has been tabled but not yet passed
dealing with the equality on the labour
market. In Finland there has been the
prevailing opinion that a general
statute on equality is not necessary. In
Denmark there has been a law on
equal pay since 1976 and on equal
treatment of men and women since
1978.
The Icelandic Canadian
Club of Toronto
EXECUTIVE for 1980-81
President.................Birgetta Gillis
Vice-President.......BrynAnderson
Recording Sec.....Esther Broughton
Corresponding Sec....Erla Macaulay
Treasurer...................Sigfus Gillis
Assistant Treasurer....DoraHagan
Social Convenors.......Olive Kuglar
Katrin Morgan
Membership.............Sigga Moore
Librarian......................Art Zeller
Single - $4.00 — Family - $7.00
Donations to the Ardal Lutheran Ladies' Aid Memorial Fund
In fond memory of our beloved husband and father, Siggi Sigvaldason.
Lara Sigvaldason
Alvin and June
Edwiniand Hazel
Barney and Irene
Wilmar
Lloyd and Sigurlin............................................. $50.00
In fond memory of our Uncle and brother-in-law Sigurdur Ingvar Sigvaldason
Ingimar and Mae Sigvaldason.................................... $5.00
Barney and Ethel Sigvaldason................................... $5.00
Marino and Colleen Sigvaldason................................. $5.00
Solla and Steini Eyolfson...................................... $5.00
Margaret and Magnus Danielson.................................. $5.00
Emily and Bob Campbell ........................................ $5.00
Kristin and Kris Johnson....................................... $5.00
Ingibjorg Sigvaldason.......................................... $5.00
In memory of Mrs. Grace Reid
The fámily from Ontario and Winnipeg.................... $ 142.00
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bjornson.................................. $10.00
Aldis and Margaret Bjornson.................................... $10.00
Rev. BobByhre.................................................. $50.00
Mr. and Mrs. J. Hornfjord............................... $ 10.00
Magnea and Arthur Sigurdson and family......................... $20.00
Marguerite Smith.............................................. $25.00
In memory of Sigridur Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. J. Hornfjord ..................................... $10.00
In memory of Albertina Gislason
Eysteinn Eyolfson and Lauga Eyolfson........................... $10.00
In memory of Sella Johnson
The Ardal Lutheran Ladies'Aid.................................. $10.00
Lauga Fjeldsted................................................ $10.00
In memory of Snjolaug Sigurdson
Lauga Fjeldsted................................................ $10.00
In memory of Gudrun Stefanson
Mr. and Mrs. John Hornfjord.................................... $20.00
Lovisa McNicholl and family.................................... $20.00
Vilbjorg Einarson and family................................. $100.00
United Farm Women of Framnes................................... $10.00
In memory of Mrs. Aldis Berry and Carl Asmundson
Ardal Lutheran Ladies' Aid...............:.............. $10.00
Gratefully Received,
Magnea S. Sigurdson