Harvard College Women's Center

Iceland just became the first country to make the gender pay gap illegal

Iceland just made history by becoming the first country in the world to require companies to prove they pay their employees equally regardless of gender. Fittingly, the Icelandic government announced the new legislation on International Women’s Day. 

According to the Associated Press, the Icelandic government will introduce legislation to Parliament later this month that will require any business with more than 25 employees to obtain a certificate confirming that they pay all employees equally for equal work. 

03/08/17

1. Ayesha Farooq (Pakistan)

Ayesha Farooq was born on August 24, 1987 in the city of Bahawalpur. Today, she is Pakistan’s only female fighter pilot. A remarkable achievement, Flight Lieutenant Ayesha Farooq is the first of six female fighter pilots to pass the final exams to qualify for battle. Her childhood was the biggest factor in her becoming a fighter pilot. There had never been any doubt that she would one day pilot a jet, she says.

2.  Pasang Lhamu Sherpa (Nepal)

The first Nepali woman mountineer to scale the highest peak of the world in April, 1993, was Pasang Lhamu Sherpa. Born on 10th December 1961 in Sukre, Sherpa was an example of courageous and determinant Nepali woman.

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3.  Chiaki Mukai (Japan)

Praised and loved both by the Japanese government and people, Chiaki Mukai has blazed new trails into a field previously unheard of for women. She has become an incredible success in her field as Japan’s first female astronaut, and yet another source of pride for Japanese people worldwide.

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4. Mia Sutanto (Indonesia)

While it may seem commonsense to breastfeed babies, many Indonesian mothers have for years been encouraged not to do it, instead being asked to feed their babies with formula. Fighting this misconception has become Mia Sutanto’s personal battle, as the chairwoman and co-founder of the Indonesian Breastfeeding Mothers’ Association (AIMI), the largest organization in the country promoting breastfeeding, with chapters in 15 provinces (roughly half of all provinces).

5. Leila Khaled (Palestine)

When Palestinian liberation fighter Leila Khaled hijacked her first plane in 1969, she became the international pin-up of armed struggle. Then she underwent cosmetic surgery so she could do it again.

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6. Asipa Musaeva (Kyrgyzstan)

In 1996, Asipa founded the Republican Independent Association of Women with Disabilities of Kyrgyzstan. One of the group’s biggest projects was to push for a local law that would make public spaces accessible for people with disabilities.

7. Maria Lorena Barros (Philippines)

Maria Lorena Barros remains today one of the most well-known heroes of the antidictatorship struggle: a charismatic leader, gifted writer, icon of modern Philippine feminism, the “gentle warrior” who defiantly confronted death at the hands of government soldiers, deep in the forests of the Sierra Madre.

Serena Williams now officially has the most major tennis wins of anyone, ever

Serena Williams set a record for Grand Slam wins with her 308th, passing Roger Federer for most all-time. Her fourth round victory over Yaroslava Shvedova came 6-2, 6-3 on Monday at the U.S. Open. And this is how insanely decorated she’ll be if she wins the Open.

Everything to know about the women’s strikes on International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is on Wednesday, March 8, and worldwide, women are celebrating by doing absolutely nothing. 

Strikes highlighting gender inequality and labor reform have been called across the country and around the globe, along with smaller protests and actions, all under the dual umbrellas of International Women’s Strike and A Day Without a Woman.

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of women’s achievements that’s been around since 1908. 

Women have been striking on International Women’s Day since 1917, Ashley Bohrer, a co-organizer for International Women’s Strike U.S., said in a phone interview. 

The Women’s March on Washington organizers announced A Day Without a Woman in early February, on the heels of their national demonstration for human rights on Jan. 21, 2017. 

A Day Without a Woman rests on the intersectional feminism espoused by the Women’s March on Washington. 

The strike, however, is slightly different: Women are asked to refrain from doing any kind of labor — paid or unpaid, physical or emotional. 

Alternatively or in addition, people can show solidarity with striking women by wearing red and refusing to shop, unless they do so at women-owned or small, local businesses. Read more (3/8/17 6:09 AM)

Can’t miss a day of work? Here’s how you can still participate in the women’s strike.

Many folks just can’t afford to risk losing their jobs or to give up a day’s wages. Thankfully, there are ways to participate without staying away from work or school.

If possible, avoid spending any money 

The organizers of A Day Without a Woman acknowledge that not everyone can take part in the same way. One of the ways they suggest participating is to avoid shopping at stores or online for the duration of the day, with the exception of “small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses that support us.”

If you can avoid it, don’t do any housework either

Organizers of the International Women’s Strike suggest strike participants should “leave care and housework for the day,” if they can. 

Research has shown that, in straight couples, women are overwhelmingly expected to do stereotypical duties like childcare, cooking and laundry.

Wear red

Organizers of a Day Without a Woman and the U.S. branch of the International Women’s Strike are also asking people to participate in the day by wearing red, if they can. 

Red was chosen as the day’s official color because, according to A Day Without a Woman organizers, it symbolizes “revolutionary love and sacrifice” and “is the color of energy and action associated with our will to survive.”

Give a caregiver the day off

If you or your household employ any women as a caregiver, nanny, babysitter or housekeeper, give them Wednesday off.

Are you a male ally? Act like one

Katherine Johnson: NASA ‘Hidden Computer’

Watch: This is what women and girls are hearing. Boys and men are hearing something else.