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Isolation Leads to Prosperity

In: Social Issues

Submitted By Joannec731
Words 1464
Pages 6
JoAnne Castonguay
Professor Brooks
Introduction to Geography GEO-102/Z1
19 October 2013
Isolation Leads to Prosperity
Iceland is a highly urbanized Nordic island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean, known for beautiful glaciers, ice caps and volcanoes. It is a country of pure contrast in climate, geography, and culture. “A place where ice and fire co exist”, ("The Big Picture") Iceland has been shaped by forces of nature with active volcanoes, roaring rivers, and glacier cut fjords. Island isolation has allowed Iceland to develop a highly prosperous country, the most distinctive culture of the Western world, and the world’s oldest parliamentary democracy, where everyone is treated equally regardless of gender.
Iceland’s 320,000 close knit homogenous population is primarily Icelandic with a primary language of Icelandic, a North Germanic language. Icelanders are primarily a mix of Scandinavian and Celtic cultures that discovered their isolation on an island to be advantageous, not only to keep enemies away but to establish and maintain their culture. Even the name Iceland was chosen to deflect visitors. Icelandic blood lines have been so stable geneticists use them to study the human genome. ("Iceland Society and Culture Complete Report”)
Extremely urbanized, at 94%, most of the population lives in the country’s capital, Reykjavik (118,000), and other cities Kopavogur (30,000), Hafnarfjordur (25,000), Akureyri (17,000), Reykjanesbaer (14,000). The rest of the population lives in rural, agricultural areas of the country. ("The Big Picture Quick Facts.")
A classless nation, Iceland’s society is very horizontal and hierarchies are avoided. Low, middle, and upper classes do not exist. Women are afforded equal opportunities at work, home and in education. “Icelandic tradition and culture values independent and self reliant women”. ("Iceland Women in Culture, Business & Travel” 1) Under the Icelandic Family Names Act, women do not take the name of their husband and children can be given the last name of either parent.
Family is a high priority in Iceland. Children are highly valued and the birth of a child is a joyful event. From the early years, Icelandic children are taught Icelandic culture and values, to be loyal and modest, respect, and work ethic. Since most children are born to working parents, children go to childcare. Icelanders consider education important and has the highest number of children enrolled in school in the world, with an impressive 99% literacy rate. Most education is free from grade school through college. Iceland laws allow each parent to take up to three months paternal or maternal leave, plus another three months. Parents expect their children to perform well in school and encourage other activities like music and sports. ("Iceland Society and Culture Complete Report”)
Soccer is the most popular sport in Iceland and the country ranks in the top 10 teams in Europe in soccer and handball. Due to the topography of the country, it is the ideal environment for adventure sports like rock climbing and river rafting. With such a long life expectancy, Icelanders are extremely health conscious and most participate in soccer, handball, or golf. ("Iceland Society and Culture Complete Report”)
Folklore continues to be an important part of Icelandic culture. Icelandic elves, or the hidden people, are a legend that is passed from generation to generation. “There is a legend that explains the existence of the hidden people. The story goes that once upon a time, God came to visit Adam and Eve. The couple received God with joy, and showed him around the house. They also brought their children to greet him. God found their children promising and full of hope. He asked Eve if she had other children aside from those she showed him but she replied, "None." This was not true, because she had other children that she was too ashamed to show God because they were dirty and unwashed. Since God was all-knowing, He sensed right away that she was lying, and declared, "What man hides from God, God will hide from man." The unwashed children became invisible, and from then on, they made homes in the mounds, hills and rocks.”
(“Iceland Society and Culture Complete Report” 19)
Over 80% of Icelanders are Lutheran belonging to the National Church of Iceland, formerly the Evangelical Lutheran Church. A small amount of Icelanders regularly attend church services but rituals like baptism, confirmation, weddings, and funerals are an important part of culture, rather than religion. Multiple other religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Muslim are present within Iceland. Due to the close knit relationships in Iceland, clashes over religion do not occur. The constitution of Iceland guarantees religious freedom. ("Iceland Society and Culture Complete Report”)
Today, largely isolated by choice, Icelanders welcome visitors and tourism is an important part of its economy and culture. Things are expensive in Iceland, an Icelander will always welcome a gift from your country or business and any type of alcohol is a very welcomed gift. Only first names are used in Iceland, the use of Mr. or Mrs. is reserved for someone with rank such as a president or bishop. A handshake and pleasant word is generally a good form of greeting an Icelandic man or woman, if you use Mr. or Mrs. it is accepted as they take pleasure in making tourists comfortable and welcomed. ("Iceland Society and Culture Complete Report”) “Iceland is arguably the world’s oldest parliamentary democracy, with the Parliament, the Althingi, established in 930” (“How is Iceland Governed”) A constitutional republic with a multi-party state with the President and government with executive power. Both the President, elected by popular vote for four years with no term limit, and the Parliament Althingi has power. Women play an active role in Iceland politics, , the first elected women elected president, Vigdis Finnbogadotir, held that position from 1980 until 1996. “Women hold 33% of seats in Parliament”. ("Iceland Women in Culture, Business & Travel” 1) “A highly prosperous nation, Iceland has one of the highest standards of living in the world”. ("Iceland Society and Culture Complete Report” 7) A society driven by each individual’s own desires, interests, and ability to live.
The key force for gender equality started with a national women’s strike in 1975. Women dominate in education and healthcare employment and are about equal with men in other service and professions including law, medicine, and technology. Men are more likely to hold senior management positions but women are graduating from universities and graduate schools at higher rates than men. Perhaps they will see more women holding senior management positions in the future. Women are not restricted from any professions or subject to any dress code. Iceland law prohibits any gender related discrimination. ("Iceland Women in Culture, Business & Travel”)
Iceland has experienced its share of economic and social problems. The collapse of the banking structure in 2008 led them to headline news and a financial crisis. The strong foundations of Icelandic economics remains strong and they move progressively toward economic recovery. ("The Big Picture People & Society") Teen pregnancy rates are one of the highest in the world despite high access to birth control and the right to abortion. (“Iceland Society and Culture Complete Report”) Despite these challenges, Iceland is a country that is economically developed and wealthy with high human development in terms of well being and quality of life.
Isolation has its benefits as we can see with the successful development of Iceland. A breathtaking beautiful country with icecaps, volcanoes, glaciers, and rivers it is home to the population with the world’s highest standards of living. Men, women, and children in Iceland are highly valued and enjoy a rich culture, equal opportunities to education, employment, and politics, prosperity and a long life expectancy. Rich in wealth, culture, and human development, Iceland is one of the best places in the world to live.

(“Iceland Map - Political Map of Iceland”)

Works Cited
"The Big Picture." Iceland The Official Gateway to Iceland. N.p. Web. 7 Oct 2013.. <http://www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/>.
"The Big Picture People & Society." Iceland The Official Gateway to Iceland. N.p. Web. 7 Oct 2013. <http://www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/people-society/>.
"The Big Picture Quick Facts." Iceland The Official Gateway to Iceland. N.p. Web. 7 Oct 2013. <http://www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/quick-facts/>.
"How is Iceland Governed." www.government.is. Government Offices of Iceland. Web. 2 Oct 2013. <http://www.government.is/how-iceland-is-governed/>.
“Iceland Map - Political Map of Iceland “. 2009. Map. ezilon.com Web. 15 Oct 2013. <http://www.ezilon.com/maps/europe/iceland-maps.html>.
Iceland Society and Culture Complete Report. Petaluma: World Trade Press, 2010. eBook.
Iceland Women in Culture, Business & Travel. Petaluma: World Trade Press, 2010. eBook.

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