Factors affecting gender (in)equality in the Icelandic labor market: A comprehensive influence map

Abstract

Demands for closing the gender gap in the Icelandic labor market have become louder recently because in spite of great strides towards gender equality, the gender pay gap still exists and the genders are still not equally represented in top management positions and on corporate boards. Calls for equal pay and equal opportunities for women in traditionally masculine jobs and for men in traditionally feminine jobs have been the loudest. Gender (in)equality in the labor market is a complex issue that has been studied both in Iceland and abroad. Those studies have predominantly focused on specific aspects of the issue, such as the gender pay gap, the gendered labor market, the glass ceiling, or gender differences in management. This study aims to generate a comprehensive map that encompasses the complexity of the influence of gender in the labor market and to present an influence map depicting the most influential issues, their interrelationships and how they interact. The findings are based on eight focus-group meetings, some of which dealt with the whole issue and some of which focused on a subset of issues. The main contribution of the paper is the resulting comprehensive influence map. Three issues appear as especially influential in the map, i.e. different family responsibilities, gender stereotypes, and women’s professional advancement in organizations. The influence map is a valuable foundation for further research and a practical contribution for those who aim to reduce the gender gap in the Icelandic labor market.