Marie Popelin
Encyclopedia
Marie Popelin was a Belgian
feminist, educator, and advocate
.
Born in Schaerbeek into a middle-class family—one of her brothers was a doctor, another an army officer—Marie Popelin was well educated by the standards of the time and place. Along with her sister Louise, she worked with feminist educator Isabelle Gatti de Gamond
, teaching in Brussels
from 1870 to 1875. Disagreements with de Gatti led to the sisters moving to Mons
to run a new school for girls there, established with Masonic
assistance. In 1882 Marie returned to Brussels, to head the middle school in Laeken, but was removed from her post the following year.
Then aged 37, Marie Popelin enrolled at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
, studying law. Completing her studies as a Doctor of Laws in 1888—the first woman to do so in Belgium—Popelin applied for admission to the bar association
which would allow her to plead cases in the Brussels courts. This was refused, although no law or regulation explicitly prevented the admission of women to the bar. Her appeals to the Court of Appeal
and the Court of Cassation
were unsuccessful, but widely reported in the Belgian and foreign press. The "Popelin affair" demonstrated to the supporters of female education that simply providing young women with access to studies was insufficient, and that further, legal, changes were required.
Marie Popelin participated in two feminist conferences in Paris in 1889, and established the Belgian League for Women's Rights in 1892 with the assistance of Isala van Diest
and Léonie la Fontaine. Popelin was a friend of American feminist May Wright Sewall
, who she had met in Paris in 1889, and with Sewall's encouragement, the Belgian section of the International Council of Women
was established from 1893. Popelin's efforts to create an independent feminist movement, not linked to the Catholic Party
, Liberals
, or Socialist Party
, were only a partial success, and the Conseil National des Femmes Belges, created in 1905, received only limited support from the women's sections of the political parties.
In spite of this tepid initial reception, Popelin's many objectives were largely met before her death in 1913. The legislative reforms excluded two of Popelin's core demands: universal adult suffrage, and equal access to the liberal professions for women. Modern studies acknowledge Marie Popelin's central role in the creation of a Belgian feminist movement. In recent polls to find the Greatest Belgian
, Marie Popelin was ranked 42nd.
(issue 5 million coins) for the 1st centenary of the International Woman's Day.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
feminist, educator, and advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
.
Born in Schaerbeek into a middle-class family—one of her brothers was a doctor, another an army officer—Marie Popelin was well educated by the standards of the time and place. Along with her sister Louise, she worked with feminist educator Isabelle Gatti de Gamond
Isabelle Gatti de Gamond
Isabelle Laure Gatti de Gamond was an Italo-Belgian educationalist, feminist, and politician.Isabelle Gatti was the second of four daughters born to Giovanni Gatti, an Italian artist, and feminist writer Zoé de Gamond, of Brussels...
, teaching in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
from 1870 to 1875. Disagreements with de Gatti led to the sisters moving to Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
to run a new school for girls there, established with Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
assistance. In 1882 Marie returned to Brussels, to head the middle school in Laeken, but was removed from her post the following year.
Then aged 37, Marie Popelin enrolled at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
, studying law. Completing her studies as a Doctor of Laws in 1888—the first woman to do so in Belgium—Popelin applied for admission to the bar association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
which would allow her to plead cases in the Brussels courts. This was refused, although no law or regulation explicitly prevented the admission of women to the bar. Her appeals to the Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal (Belgium)
The Court of Appeal in Belgium is a court which hears appeals against decisions of the Court of First Instance and the Commercial Court. Unlike the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal isn't divided into different divisions. There are five Courts of Appeal in Belgium...
and the Court of Cassation
Court of Cassation (Belgium)
The Court of Cassation is the main court of last resort in Belgium.It was originally modelled after the French Cour de cassation. Its jurisdiction and powers are similar to those of its French counterpart....
were unsuccessful, but widely reported in the Belgian and foreign press. The "Popelin affair" demonstrated to the supporters of female education that simply providing young women with access to studies was insufficient, and that further, legal, changes were required.
Marie Popelin participated in two feminist conferences in Paris in 1889, and established the Belgian League for Women's Rights in 1892 with the assistance of Isala van Diest
Isala Van Diest
Anne Catherine Albertine Isala Van Diest, better known by the name Isala Van Diest, born on May 7, 1842 at Louvain and died February 2, 1916 in Knokke was the first female medical doctor and the first female university graduate in Belgium.- Biography :...
and Léonie la Fontaine. Popelin was a friend of American feminist May Wright Sewall
May Wright Sewall
May Wright Sewall was an American feminist, educator, and lecturer. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. In 1866, she earned a bachelor's degree, and in 1868 she earned a master's degree, both from North Western Female College. In 1872, Sewall married Edwin W. Thompson and...
, who she had met in Paris in 1889, and with Sewall's encouragement, the Belgian section of 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...
was established from 1893. Popelin's efforts to create an independent feminist movement, not linked to the Catholic Party
Catholic Party (Belgium)
The first Catholic Party in Belgium was established in 1869 as the Confessional Catholic Party .-History:In 1852 a Union Constitutionelle et Conservatrice was founded in Ghent, in Leuven , and in Antwerp and Brussels in 1858, which were active only during elections...
, Liberals
Liberalism in Belgium
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Belgium. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
, or Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Belgium)
The following Socialist Parties exist in Belgium:* Left Socialist Party - Linkse Socialistische Partij/Parti Socialiste de Lutte * Parti Socialiste * Socialistische Partij Anders, Socialist Party Differently -See also:...
, were only a partial success, and the Conseil National des Femmes Belges, created in 1905, received only limited support from the women's sections of the political parties.
In spite of this tepid initial reception, Popelin's many objectives were largely met before her death in 1913. The legislative reforms excluded two of Popelin's core demands: universal adult suffrage, and equal access to the liberal professions for women. Modern studies acknowledge Marie Popelin's central role in the creation of a Belgian feminist movement. In recent polls to find the Greatest Belgian
De Grootste Belg
De Grootste Belg was a 2005 vote conducted by Belgian public TV broadcaster Canvas, public radio broadcaster Radio 1, and newspaper De Standaard, to determine who is the Greatest Belgian of all time...
, Marie Popelin was ranked 42nd.
Commemoration
In 2011 Popelin and the first Belgian female doctor, Isala Van Diest, were depicted on the Belgian 2 euro commemorative coin€2 commemorative coins
€2 commemorative coins are special euro coins minted and issued by member states of the eurozone since 2004 as legal tender in all eurozone member states. The coins typically commemorate the anniversaries of historical events or draw attention to current events of special importance...
(issue 5 million coins) for the 1st centenary of the International Woman's Day.
See also
- History of feminismHistory of feminismThe history of feminism involves the story of feminist movements and of feminist thinkers. Depending on time, culture and country, feminists around the world have sometimes had different causes and goals...
- List of suffragists and suffragettes
- Women's suffrageWomen's suffrageWomen's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...