There are journeys where the landscape shifts beneath you—sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. Our recent trip to Iceland delivered both, including the Women’s Strike in Reykjavik. My husband Norman, who happens to be the travel editor for The Gal Project, and I swooped into Reykjavik with notebooks, cameras, and a healthy sense of curiosity. The goal? Basic travel documentation and the usual stuff: quirky shops, volcanic views, trying not to slip on the ice and break a hip before our adventure even started.
But Reykjavik had other plans for us. We arrived just as the annual women’s strike hit its 50th-year mark, and suddenly our scenic travel article became something much bigger. Sometimes, you’re handed a story you can’t ignore. This was one of those times.
Reykjavik: More Than Just Sights
We landed in Reykjavík with vague itineraries and zero political intentions. Just two travelers, ready to absorb Iceland’s sights, sounds, and—let’s be honest—knitwear. You haven’t truly traveled until you’ve browsed an Icelandic yarn shop and wondered if you’re cool enough to pull off a chunky handknit sweater.
We were barely settled in before the city pivoted. Streets closed, the buzz of anticipation hung in the air, and our hotel lobby pulsed with updates about march routes. Newsflash: You don’t just wander into Reykjavík on the day of the women’s strike.
As Norman would put it, we had “planned this all the way,” sprinkling some cheeky spin into our travel tale. Reality check: Pure luck led us there, but luck in the travel world counts for gold.
A Crowd with Purpose
We wandered downtown, dodging street closures and eventually colliding with the march. It was impossible to ignore. Stages stood proud, music soared, and everywhere we looked women of all ages strutted solidarity. Norman, ever the observer, noted the police presence—smooth, understated crowd control. The city was ready for disruption, but in the best possible way.
Participants ranged from girls barely taller than their banners to women seasoned by decades of marching and making change. The line stretched back generations, and you felt it. When Norman described the “pride of women, not only just here in Iceland, but all over the world,” it wasn’t cliché. It’s true.
A Yarn Shop, A Protest, and Pure Icelandic Grit
The night before it all began, we dipped into one of the city’s legit yarn shops—official certifiers of Icelandic hand knitting. The owner, a woman with decades behind the counter, was prepping for her staff’s absence. “Just a notification,” she said. The shop would shutter temporarily while her employees joined the strike. She herself would bow out this year; age, weather, and a long commute kept her home while the younger crowd marched on. Sometimes supporting the movement means handing over the torch and brewing tea in the background instead.
Norman asked the kind of questions only a travel editor would dare: “Are you joining?” Her answer rang with lived reality. She’d done her time on the front lines. Let the young ones carry the banners high.
Meeting the March: Union Leaders and Their Mission
If you want real substance, talk to the organizers. We did exactly that. On the day of the significant event, we had the opportunity to meet two union leaders, Sólvin and Pia (I hope we spelled their names correctly), who had a strong connection to Icelandic unions and a strong desire for change. These women represented the backbone of the movement, fanning flyers and rallying conversation.
Their demands mirrored those you’ll hear around the world: equal pay, fair division of labor at home, and zero tolerance for domestic violence. Sólvin and Pia handed out flyers and hope in equal measure. They pointed out an Icelandic quirk—women here are most of the workforce, yet the old burdens remain. Chores, childcare, and struggles against violence haven’t disappeared; the march exists because the work continues.
Signs of Change, Signs of Hope
Norman was especially struck by the homemade banners. One, hoisted by a forceful twenty-something, read: “The system was not designed for us, so we are going to rebuild it.” That sentiment sums up the day: Young women reimagining the future out loud, unafraid. In that moment, our travel article turned into something more than a record of destinations—it became a witness to every person willing to march, shout, or simply knit in solidarity.
Reflection from Reykjavík’s Streets
Iceland’s women’s strike taught us more than any travel guide could. Norman and I arrived expecting scenery and culture. We found activism woven through both, as constant and sharp as the wind off the harbor. On the surface, it’s all music and banners, but underneath lies real demand for change.
The march in Reykjavík isn’t just an annual event—it’s a living testament to persistence, unity, and unapologetic hope. The pride and energy on those streets, the stories from union leaders, and the wisdom of shop owners showed us that travel means seeing life raw and unfiltered. Sometimes, simply being there is to bear witness. Because when the system wasn’t built for you, you build something better. And maybe the best travel stories are the ones that catch you by surprise, redefining the map you thought you knew.
You can learn more about Iceland’s Women’s March through the Kvennaar website.
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