First an Obstacle, Then Every Woman’s Dream: Discourses of Motherhood in Print Media, 1970–1979 versus 2010–2019

Auðardóttir, Auður Magndís; Rúdólfsdóttir, Annadís Greta

doi:10.1080/08038740.2022.2139753

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…As in other western countries, neoliberal ideology has rooted itself both in structures and people's mentality in Iceland (Pétursdóttir, 2009). Confidence culture has become part of feminine technologies and is considered the key to success and becoming the best version of yourself (Auðardóttir and Rúdólfsdóttir, 2022). However, feminist movements have made several interventions in gender politics that have left a mark on societies' collective memory (Rúdólfsdóttir and Jóhannsdóttir, 2018).…”

Section: The Icelandic Cultural Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feminist solidarity and hopeful imaginings in the MeToo movement in Iceland

Rúdólfsdóttir,

Pétursdóttir

2024

European Journal of Women's Studies

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In this article, we build on feminist scholarship to narrate how the MeToo movement in Iceland was formed through collective reflexivity and resistance, ultimately connecting different groups of women in affective solidarity. In our exploration of how the movement unfolded, we draw on anonymous MeToo testimonies and media discussions. We argue that the feminist lexicon, particularly the notion of ‘returning the shame’, was instrumental in hailing different groups to the movement. We trace how the concepts used restructured the women’s affective relations to their experiences and thus enabled the ‘feminist snap’ that reverberated across and connected different groups. Speaking positions on different social locations revealed the intersectional nature of sexual violations and were necessary for seeing connections between and among different groups and going beyond politics centred on middle-class pain. We conclude that painting a bigger feminist picture of sexual violence is always an incomplete and ongoing process but is necessary for allowing us to hope for a better future for everyone.

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Section: The Icelandic Cultural Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feminist solidarity and hopeful imaginings in the MeToo movement in Iceland

Rúdólfsdóttir,

Pétursdóttir

2024

European Journal of Women's Studies

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“…In their analysis of the representation of constructions of motherhood in the Icelandic mainstream print media, Auðardóttir and Rúdólfsdóttir (2022) examine two historical periods. The first period (1970)(1971)(1972)(1973)(1974)(1975)(1976)(1977)(1978)(1979) witnessed an increase in women's participation in the workforce, which coincided with declining fertility rates.…”

Section: Social-historical Feminist Context Of Motherhood In Icelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During this period, women had 2.81 children on average (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development [OECD], 2022a). At that time, Icelandic feminists began to challenge entrenched discourses about motherhood and the home as the “natural place” for women, viewing domestic tasks as oppressive, unpaid labor (Auðardóttir & Rúdólfsdóttir, 2022; Halldórsdóttir et al, 2020). Notions about motherhood as a selfless moral duty subsided throughout this period, and the discourse on motherhood as a choice to fulfill a woman’s inner needs emerged (Rúdólfsdóttir, 1997).…”

Section: Social–historical Feminist Context Of Motherhood In Icelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Notions about motherhood as a selfless moral duty subsided throughout this period, and the discourse on motherhood as a choice to fulfill a woman’s inner needs emerged (Rúdólfsdóttir, 1997). This established motherhood as less of an obligation and more of a “natural” choice and “…the prerequisite for respectable femininity in the community…” (Auðardóttir & Rúdólfsdóttir, 2022, p. 2).…”

Section: Social–historical Feminist Context Of Motherhood In Icelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This occurred in tandem with increased political and economic support for working mothers and parents, similar to other Nordic countries. Despite the introduction of parental support, the perception of mothers as natural caregivers persisted; accordingly, they were encouraged to invest their time and effort in running the household and raising their children (Auðardóttir & Rúdólfsdóttir, 2022; Símonardóttir, 2016). In Nordic countries, working mothers represent the norm.…”

Section: Social–historical Feminist Context Of Motherhood In Icelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

“We all have Regrets; it doesn’t Mean we are Failures”: Rejecting or Regretting Motherhood

Johnson

Pétursdóttir

2023

Journal of Family Issues

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A woman’s choice to remain childfree is often met with disapproving comments. This article focuses on pronatalism and the social discourse that promotes and maintains motherhood as the preferred choice for women in a country that has achieved high levels of gender equality. Critical discourse analysis is applied to 30 qualitative interviews with women, trans, and non-binary people in Iceland, who are either childfree by choice or who regret motherhood. The results indicate that despite neoliberalism advocating a woman’s right to freedom of choice, pronatalist ideologies continue to undermine reproductive self-determination, promoting motherhood as the right choice. Unsolicited comments act as powerful mechanisms that serve to shame those who can bear children into becoming mothers or facing regret yet simultaneously condemn women who regret motherhood. Women who choose to remain childfree privately challenge unwanted comments by overturning pronatalist discourses, whereas those who regret their choice to become mothers struggle to express their feelings for fear of being judged and branded as failures.

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The working conditions of Icelandic upper secondary school teachers during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A gender inequality against all odds

Gestsdóttir,

Ragnarsdóttir,

Björnsdóttir

et al. 2024

Review of Education

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In Iceland, and around the world, the working environment in upper secondary schools changed dramatically with the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In our research, we aimed to illuminate the ever‐changing working conditions of teachers in Icelandic upper secondary schools during the first year of the pandemic, especially in the context of gender and family composition. Data came from interviews with 12 teachers and surveys administered to upper secondary school teachers in 33 out of 37 upper‐secondary schools in Iceland with participation from approximately one‐third of the teacher population. The results show that teachers felt increasingly stressed throughout the pandemic and that gender played a significant role. Women, who often also served as primary caregivers at home, found it more strenuous to fulfil their teaching duties than men. The results raise important questions about teachers' working conditions and gender's role therein, especially in a country considered an emblem of success when it comes to gender equality.

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First an Obstacle, Then Every Woman’s Dream: Discourses of Motherhood in Print Media, 1970–1979 versus 2010–2019

Cited by 9 publications

References 26 publications

Feminist solidarity and hopeful imaginings in the MeToo movement in Iceland

Feminist solidarity and hopeful imaginings in the MeToo movement in Iceland

“We all have Regrets; it doesn’t Mean we are Failures”: Rejecting or Regretting Motherhood

The working conditions of Icelandic upper secondary school teachers during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A gender inequality against all odds

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