Reykjavík Museum of Photography

It has been 50 years since women all over Iceland stopped their paid and unpaid jobs and brought the country to a standstill. Women's Day Off was held on October 24 to protest various forms of discrimination against women in the labor market and to draw attention to the contributions of women to society.


The photographs in the exhibition were all taken on Women's Day, held at Lækjartorg on October 24, 1975, where it is estimated that 25,000 women attended the meeting. This is likely one of the largest outdoor gatherings in Iceland's history. The event attracted worldwide attention.


The poet, Karólína Rós Ólafsdóttir, wrote the poem Within Sight specifically for the exhibition, drawing inspiration from the photographs on display.

Women's Day Off was held on October 24 to protest various forms of discrimination against women in the labor market and to draw attention to the contributions of women to society.

#### Within sight

- People fill the streets and nothing 
- is visible except the top of a head by another 
- solidarity is an ocean, frothing energy 
- signs and banners are surfaces on the crowd 
- clear messages, painted, hands 
- that stretch the words upwards, it is impossible 
- to live off of air only 
- offices empty 
- and service counters, the fish tubs frozen in place 
- children at home eating hot dogs, children 
- tugging at a tie knot, agitated inside but outside voices 
- that shout 
- step forward and look ahead, rise up 
- from the prejudice pit, 
- a future within sight! 
- Stickers and badges on each coat, 
- each woolen garment, outside voices 
- that sing Yes I dare, can and 
- fists in the air, demanding questions, 
- keep at it. 
- The freedom now within sight 
- fifty years later and soon 
- it is October again and frosted windows again, 
- again women with signs in hand tying 
- their shoes on, time to remind of everything 
- that had to happen immediately and still does 
- those who wish us backwards 
- do not understand what came before 
- do not understand 
- that solidarity is an ocean, a foaming wave 
- again, there are fists in the air, singing again 
- and here you stand again, at a protest 
- Lækjartorg square full of vision 
- look at the crowd, find the demands burning 
- and the willpower. Shout! Fix your hat 
- it might be cold but it does not matter 
- pull a red sock over your ankle, the sky is bright 
- and the placards state clearly, wake up now 
- wake up, the fight is not finishing today.


The Women's Day Off October 24 1975

Currently on view in Skotið exhibition space - an exhibition from the museum collection on the occasion that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the The Women's Day Off on October 24 1975 which was a monumental moment in Icelandic (women's) history.

The Wo­men's Day Off Oc­to­ber 24 1975

Currently on view in Skotið exhibition space - an exhibition from the museum collection on the occasion that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the The Women's Day Off on October 24 1975 which was a monumental moment in Icelandic (women's) history.

The Women's Day Off October 24 1975