Vergessene Arbeitskämpfe - Ein Punk-Abend | Der Gleichheitskampf – Frauenstreik in Island, 1975 | Gym Tonic, SMiSK (Schweden)

51 years ago, the women of Iceland went on strike—they refused to do housework or childcare for a day, and 60 percent of working women did not go to their jobs. October 24, 1975, transformed the patriarchal image of women in the country and helped propel Iceland to the forefront of the fight for equality. Thousands of women across the country took part in the mass strike 51 years ago, demanding equal pay and equal representation in government.

The strike, commonly referred to as the “Long Friday,” marked a turning point in Iceland’s feminist movement and gender equality policies, leading to significant political achievements: the following year, the Icelandic parliament passed a law guaranteeing gender equality. The strike also paved the way for the election of Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the world’s first democratically elected female president, five years later in 1980.

When Ronald Reagan became U.S. president in 1981, a young boy in Iceland was outraged. “He can’t be president—he’s a man!” he exclaimed to his mother when he saw the news on television.

Gym Tonic are an international four-piece and talk of the town when it comes to hyped-up synth punk. In some parallel universe, DEVO, Half Japanese and The Residents grew into one and decided to channel their energy into songs about nuclear catastrophes, vitamin injections, car sickness and deadly events. Throw melody lines straight out of the Twillight Zone on top and you have an all-around gem.

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SMiSK is a Swedish five piece band that plays x-rated femme-punk with heavy riot grrrl tendencies and sexually explicit lyrics. To try to describe the feeling of seeing them live is a futile attempt, but one might point out that this band leaves no one indifferent, some yearning for more and a whole lot scared shitless. SMiSK is a blasting blend of raw power, high energy live performance and queer madness with punk rock poetry catchphrases and a never ending lust to make you blush. This you can count on: after seeing this band you’ll be swallowed whole and spat out as a new being.

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SMiSK on TIDAL