Gina Krog
Encyclopedia
Gina Krog was a Norwegian feminist
pioneer, teacher, politician and editor. She played a central role in the Norwegian women's movement in the 1880s.
, Lofoten
as the daughter of parish priest Jørgen Sverdrup Krog and Ingeborg Anna Dass Brinchmann. After her father's early death she lived with her mother in Karmøy
until she was eight years old, and then moved to Christiania
. In Christiania she attended a school for girls. She later worked as an autodidact teacher in private schools for several years, until 1880. She was aunt of writer Helge Krog
. She was among the first women to go hiking in the mountains of Jotunheimen
, which gave her a reputation as "mountaineer".
and the leader of the organization Millicent Garrett Fawcett. Back in Norway she started writing newspaper articles, first under pseudomyms, and later under her own name. She belonged to the radical feminists, demanding full equal political rights between women and men, contrasting the more moderate feminists who focused on the improvement of women's financial conditions. She proclaimed the women's right to vote on equal conditions as men, without compromise. This point of view came to be a disputed issue within the feminist movement of the time.
Krog co-founded the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights in 1884, together with its first chairman Hagbard Emanuel Berner
. She edited the association's periodical Nylænde
from its start in 1887 until her death in 1916. In 1885 Berner resigned as chairman, as a protest against Krog's talk Stemmeret for Kvinder. In December 1885 Krog founded Kvinnestemmerettsforeningen (KSF), an association only for women. Twelve years later, after internal conflicts with more compromising members, Krog left this association and started the National Association for Women's suffrage in 1898. LKSF was admitted as a member of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance
from it start 1904. In 1904 she founded Norske Kvinners Nasjonalråd (associated with the International Council of Women
), and chaired this organization until her death.
Krog was the first women in Norway to be honoured with a funeral at public expense. Her funeral in 1916 was attended by the prime minister, the president of the Parliament, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
.
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
pioneer, teacher, politician and editor. She played a central role in the Norwegian women's movement in the 1880s.
Early and personal life
Jørgine Anna Sverdrup Krog was born in FlakstadFlakstad
Flakstad is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Lofoten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ramberg...
, Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
as the daughter of parish priest Jørgen Sverdrup Krog and Ingeborg Anna Dass Brinchmann. After her father's early death she lived with her mother in Karmøy
Karmøy
Karmøy is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located southwest of the city of Haugesund in the traditional district of Haugaland....
until she was eight years old, and then moved to Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. In Christiania she attended a school for girls. She later worked as an autodidact teacher in private schools for several years, until 1880. She was aunt of writer Helge Krog
Helge Krog
Helge Krog was a Norwegian journalist, essayist, theatre and literary critic, translator and playwright.-Personal life:...
. She was among the first women to go hiking in the mountains of Jotunheimen
Jotunheimen
Jotunheimen is a mountainous area of roughly 3,500 km² in Southern Norway and is part of the long range known as the Scandinavian Mountains. The 29 highest mountains in Norway are all in Jotunheimen, including the very highest - Galdhøpiggen...
, which gave her a reputation as "mountaineer".
Career
In 1880 Gina Krog travelled to Great Britain, where she stayed a while at the Bedford College, and made contacts with the National Union of Women's Suffrage SocietiesNational Union of Women's Suffrage Societies
The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies , also known as the Suffragists was an organisation of women's suffrage societies in the United Kingdom.-Formation and campaigning:...
and the leader of the organization Millicent Garrett Fawcett. Back in Norway she started writing newspaper articles, first under pseudomyms, and later under her own name. She belonged to the radical feminists, demanding full equal political rights between women and men, contrasting the more moderate feminists who focused on the improvement of women's financial conditions. She proclaimed the women's right to vote on equal conditions as men, without compromise. This point of view came to be a disputed issue within the feminist movement of the time.
Krog co-founded the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights in 1884, together with its first chairman Hagbard Emanuel Berner
Hagbard Emanuel Berner
Hagbard Emanuel Berner was a Norwegian jurist, politician and newspaper editor. He initiated a series of long-lived enterprises, including the publishing house Det Norske Samlaget, the newspaper Dagbladet and the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights.-Background:Berner was born in Sunndal in...
. She edited the association's periodical Nylænde
Nylænde
Nylænde was a Norwegian feminist magazine, issued by the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights from 1887. Its first editor was Gina Krog, who edited the magazine from 1887 until her death in 1916. Fredrikke Mørck took over as editor from 1916...
from its start in 1887 until her death in 1916. In 1885 Berner resigned as chairman, as a protest against Krog's talk Stemmeret for Kvinder. In December 1885 Krog founded Kvinnestemmerettsforeningen (KSF), an association only for women. Twelve years later, after internal conflicts with more compromising members, Krog left this association and started the National Association for Women's suffrage in 1898. LKSF was admitted as a member of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance
International Alliance of Women
The International Alliance of Women is a non-governmental, feminist organization, which embraces both women’s groups and individuals. The basic principle of the IAW is that the full and equal enjoyment of human rights is due to all women and girls....
from it start 1904. In 1904 she founded Norske Kvinners Nasjonalråd (associated with the International Council of Women
International Council of Women
The International Council of Women was the first women's organization to work across national boundaries for the common cause of advocating human rights for women. In March and April 1888, women leaders came together in Washington D.C...
), and chaired this organization until her death.
Krog was the first women in Norway to be honoured with a funeral at public expense. Her funeral in 1916 was attended by the prime minister, the president of the Parliament, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway is the judicial leader of the Supreme Court of Norway.The following is a chronological list of chief justices since the court was established:...
.