Fanny Sundström
Encyclopedia
Fanny Sundström was a teacher
, politician
and women's right activist on the Åland Islands
, Finland
. After becoming a primary school teacher, she took an active part in the "Martha Movement" (sv. Marthaföreningen) and worked for social improvements.
The Martha Movement was established in 1899 by a group of women who established the Martha Organization to advance Finland's economic and cultural life. This organisation improved the health and well-being of children and families, and helped to build the early foundations for the welfare society.
But the change wasn't only social and economic. Before and after the constitutional reforms in Finland
in 1906, the Martha Movement played a vital role in training women to use their political rights. The result was that in Finland's first modern parliamentary elections in 1907, 19 women were elected to the 200-member parliament. Many of these women supported efforts to improve women's social conditions.
In 1922 Fanny Sundström was the only woman to be elected to the first Parliament of Åland
. In 1929 she was elected to the municipal council. She remained politically active until her death.
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and women's right activist on the Åland Islands
Åland Islands
The Åland Islands form an archipelago in the Baltic Sea. They are situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia and form an autonomous, demilitarised, monolingually Swedish-speaking region of Finland...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. After becoming a primary school teacher, she took an active part in the "Martha Movement" (sv. Marthaföreningen) and worked for social improvements.
The Martha Movement was established in 1899 by a group of women who established the Martha Organization to advance Finland's economic and cultural life. This organisation improved the health and well-being of children and families, and helped to build the early foundations for the welfare society.
But the change wasn't only social and economic. Before and after the constitutional reforms in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in 1906, the Martha Movement played a vital role in training women to use their political rights. The result was that in Finland's first modern parliamentary elections in 1907, 19 women were elected to the 200-member parliament. Many of these women supported efforts to improve women's social conditions.
In 1922 Fanny Sundström was the only woman to be elected to the first Parliament of Åland
Parliament of Åland
The Lagting, or Lagtinget, is the parliament of Åland, an autonomous, demilitarised and unilingually Swedish-speaking territory of Finland. The Lagting has 30 seats.- Elections :- See also :*Government of Åland, or Ålands landskapsregering...
. In 1929 she was elected to the municipal council. She remained politically active until her death.