The world's most feminist country: Iceland has just banned all strip clubs.

[Elvis]

The end is nigh.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...minist-country

Iceland is fast becoming a world-leader in feminism. A country with a tiny population of 320,000, it is on the brink of achieving what many considered to be impossible: closing down its sex industry.

While activists in Britain battle on in an attempt to regulate lapdance clubs – the number of which has been growing at an alarming rate during the last decade – Iceland has passed a law that will result in every strip club in the country being shut down. And forget hiring a topless waitress in an attempt to get around the bar: the law, which was passed with no votes against and only two abstentions, will make it illegal for any business to profit from the nudity of its employees.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/...ster-J-001.jpg

Even more impressive: the Nordic state is the first country in the world to ban stripping and lapdancing for feminist, rather than religious, reasons. Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir, the politician who first proposed the ban, firmly told the national press on Wednesday: "It is not acceptable that women or people in general are a product to be sold." When I asked her if she thinks Iceland has become the greatest feminist country in the world, she replied: "It is certainly up there. Mainly as a result of the feminist groups putting pressure on parliamentarians. These women work 24 hours a day, seven days a week with their campaigns and it eventually filters down to all of society."

[...]Strip club owners are, not surprisingly, furious about the new law. One gave an interview to a local newspaper in which he likened Iceland's approach to that of a country such as Saudi Arabia, where it is not permitted to see any part of a woman's body in public. "I have reached the age where I'm not sure whether I want to bother with this hassle any more," he said.

Janice Raymond, a director of Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, hopes that all sex industry profiteers feel the same way, and believes the new law will pave the way for governments in other countries to follow suit. "What a victory, not only for the Icelanders but for everyone worldwide who repudiates the sexual exploitation of women," she says.

Jónsdóttir is confident that the law will create a change in attitudes towards women. "I guess the men of Iceland will just have to get used to the idea that women are not for sale."

[Qalbert]

The world's most feminist country: Iceland has just banned all strip clubs.

http://images.bluegartr.com/forum/cu...tar40767_8.gif

[Elvis]

My thoughts exactly.

[Baelorn]

I'm confused as to how this is considered progress.

[Eanae]

And in a "completely unrelated" note, Iceland's unemployment rate skyrockets!

[Kuya]

On the one hand, i get their point, on the other, i like to see women stripping. Oh well.

[Zilong]

This is what happens when the government runs health care.

[Guitarman]

ugly bitch jealous so goes on a pms-fueled rampage. big suprise.

[Kuya]

I would not mind this kind of ban. What would piss me off would be a ban on porn, which wouldn't be far fetched. In which case i'd expect women to put out more if porn were banned otherwise, i'm raping.

[Ramor]

first they want women to be able to work and now they're basically saying they don't want women to be able to work.

the fuck feminism

[Pirian]

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.

[Baelorn]

I would not mind this kind of ban. What would piss me off would be a ban on porn, which wouldn't be far fetched. In which case i'd expect women to put out more if porn were banned otherwise, i'm raping.

will make it illegal for any business to profit from the nudity of its employees

I think porn would fall under this ban.

Imo telling women what they can and cannot do with their bodies is a big step in the wrong direction.

[archibaldcrane]

In Iceland, restricting the rights of women = feminism?

Interesting logic.

[Cadsuane]

I'm gonna go ahead and say that if women aren't allowed to profit off male sexuality in any way then there's going to be pretty much no prospect of employment left to them.

(lol)

[BRP]

hahahah, this proves my theory feminism is just a front to hold back the desires of men!

[Kuya]

In Iceland, restricting the rights of women = feminism?

Interesting logic.

Maybe it's due to american logic where buying thigns equals freedom but:

Restricting the rights of women to sell their bodies because men want them to sounds less objectionable to a general statement like "restricting the rights of women!". As if it were somehow equatable to the right to abortion. Interetingly you ignore the fact that the bill's language is also gender non specific, so men also can't strip for cash.

I, on the other hand, am conflicted about this.

[Cadsuane]

Because you're not sure how you feel about objectification rhetoric?

[Kuya]

I don't see how banning strip clubs stops men from objectifying women.

[Cadsuane]

Well obviously it stops them from doing so in strip clubs.

[Atreides]

I wouldnt be surprised if their economy collaspses after th-- OH WAIT IT ALREADY DID LOL