Women, Parity, Leadership

A passionate feminist, Science Department Chair Donna Daigle envisions a future where women have an equal say in governance and leadership. That vision directly speaks to the world she wants for her students.

“When women lead, they begin to derail the wheels of vicious social cycles and create momentum for virtuous ones to spin in their place,” explains Donna. “When I consider the future, I consider my students. They are key to the world I envision — a world where they experience parity, where they have full political representation and agency, and where they are empowered to spin the virtuous wheel of social change themselves.”

To learn more about a world where gender parity is close to reality, Donna traveled last summer to Iceland, a country with a long history of parliamentary-based governance and gender equity. Thanks, in part, to a Paternotte Family Travel Grant, she spent 30 days there immersing herself in the culture, exploring history, asking questions, and learning as much as possible about how the country has gotten so much right.

“Women are gaining greater representation in government, and some countries do that better than others,” says Donna. “Iceland is one of them. Iceland values women as decision-makers and as politically capable, and women have a strong voice there.”

Donna surmises some reasons are Iceland’s stark landscape, challenging climate, and unique geological features. Historically, survival depended on working together to accomplish tasks. A task wasn’t a ‘man’s job’ or a ‘woman’s job;’ it was simply a job that needed doing. Another reason, she adds, is the presence of strong female leaders, including Aud the Deep Minded, a 9th-century settler who led in an egalitarian way.

Connecting with Aud’s path was part of Donna’s itinerary, 10 days of which were covered by the Paternotte grant and included an extended stay in Reykjavik. There, Donna attended the Well Being Economic Forum, visited Parliament, attended national events, and networked with many people to gain a better understanding of what it means to experience gender parity as a collective. To enrich her learning, Donna traveled to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula on the west coast, where Aud established a settlement, then continued her explorations on the south coast, hiking and visiting historical sights. Most importantly, she asked questions — lots of questions.

“You can really only begin to feel the culture of a country if you extend your time there,” explains Donna, eager to bring an ethnographic approach to her visit. “I wanted to know what the women of Iceland had to say.” Conversations often featured questions posed by her students — What women-centered change have they seen? What kind of health education do they have? How do women dress? What is dating like? Are there still double standards regarding gender parity? Where do they need to improve? What factors make it favorable for women to participate in governing?

“We have conversations all the time in my Women’s Health class about what it looks like to support not only women but all people,” notes Donna, who plans to return to Iceland next June to further her work. “What does it mean to have a society where all people are valued and where there is a work/life balance? Immersing myself in a community grappling earnestly with these societal issues was invaluable.”