For nine years in a row, the World Economic Forum has ranked Iceland as the top country for gender equality, and for good reason. Not only has the hot-springs hot spot already closed nearly 88 percent of its Global Gender Gap—which encompasses education, economics, politics, and more—but it just made history by becoming the world's first nation to establish a law that ensures equal pay. (Nearly half of Iceland's parliament is made up of women, so the new legislation came roots that are predisposed to equality, Al Jazeera reports).
"We have managed to get to the point that people realize that the legislation we have had in place is not working, and we need to do something more." —Dagny Osk Aradottir Pind, Icelandic Women’s Rights Association board member
"I think that now, people are starting to realize that this is a systematic problem that we have to tackle with new methods," Dagny Osk Aradottir Pind, a board member of the Icelandic Women's Rights Association, told Al Jazeera. "We have managed to get to the point that people realize that the legislation we have had in place is not working, and we need to do something more."
So how exactly will the new law work? According to Al Jazeera, companies with 25 or more employees will need to obtain government certification of its equal-pay policies. Without the certification, the companies will see some major fines. Obviously this Nordic hot spot is on to something—and hopefully, after seeing the positive strides, other nations will follow suit (or dress, or *whatever* an employee chooses to wear).
Here are four cozy Airbnbs to experience the northern lights in Iceland. Or, book this cabin for a little hot springs getaway.
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