Neenah Public Library

Secrets of the sprakkar, Iceland's extraordinary women and how they are changing the world, Eliza Reid

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

maps

index present

non fiction

Secrets of the sprakkar

bibliography

1264750046

Eliza Reid

Iceland's extraordinary women and how they are changing the world

"Iceland is the best place on earth to be a woman--but why? For the past twelve years, the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report has ranked Iceland number one on its list of countries closing the gap in equality between men and women. What is it about Iceland that makes many women's experience there so positive? Why has their society made such meaningful progress in this ongoing battle, from electing the world's first female president to passing legislation specifically designed to help even the playing field at work and at home? And how can we learn from what Icelanders have already discovered about women's powerful place in society and how increased fairness benefits everyone? Eliza Reid, the First Lady of Iceland, examines her adopted homeland's attitude toward women-the deep-seated cultural sense of fairness, the influence of current and historical role models, and, crucially, the areas where Iceland still has room for improvement. Reid's own experience as an immigrant from small-town Canada who never expected to become a first lady is expertly interwoven with interviews with dozens of sprakkar ("extraordinary women") to form the backbone of an illuminating discussion of what it means to move through the world as a woman, and how the rules of society play more of a role in who we view as "equal" than we may understand. Secrets of the Sprakkar is a powerful and atmospheric portrait of a tiny country that could lead the way forward for us all"--, Provided by publisher

An immigrant in Iceland -- Helping parents helps us all -- The saga-era sprakki who defied convention -- The strength in sisterhood -- Stigma-free sexuality -- The no-holds-barred sprakki of the middle ages -- Claiming the corporate purse strings -- Being seen and heard in the media -- The undaunted sprakki who fought for nature -- Finding harmony in the wild -- Art as an instrument of equality -- The sprakkar who rallied a nation -- No woman is an island -- The sprakki who shattered the glass ceiling -- Politics on her own terms -- Within reach

Iceland's extraordinary women and how they are changing the world