Rosalie Roos
Encyclopedia
Rosalie Roos, married name Olivecrona (December 9, 1823 - June 4, 1898), was a Swedish feminist activist and writer
. She is one of the three great pioneers of the organized women's rights
movement in Sweden
, alongside Fredrika Bremer
and Sophie Adlersparre
.
and was among the first students at Wallinska girls' school in Stockholm Wallinska flickskolan, the oldest girls' school in Sweden dating to 1831. The family moved in 1839 to Sjogeris at the foot of the mountainous plateau, Mösseberg in Västergötland
.
One of her friends, Hulda Hahr, was a teacher at a girls' school in Limestone, a town near Charleston
in South Carolina
in the United States
, and offered her a position on the school. She traveled to the United States
in 1851, and stayed there for four years. Roos was first a teacher of French at the school in Limestone, then she became a governess
at the plantation of two of her students, Eliza and Annie Peronneau. She later wrote a description of her stay and of the culture of the American South. She did not notice any abuse of the slaves herself, but she considered slavery
to be unnatural and "emotionally disgusting," and was convinced that its abolition was unavoidable, though it would meet with much resistance. She returned to Sweden in 1855.
In 1859, she founded the paper Tidskrift för hemmet ("Journal for the Home") in companionship with her friend Sophie Adlersparre with financial support of Fredrika Limnell
. The paper was a feminist publication, which argued for women's rights, particularly the right to higher education and profession. They wrote many of the articles themselves. It was published in Stockholm from 1859 to 1885.
In 1861, Roos and Adlersparre made a journey through Germany
, France
, England
, Scotland
and Ireland
to compare the difference within the feminist movements, and reported that the movement was little known in Germany and France in comparison to Great Britain
.
In 1864, she took part in the founding of Svenska Röda Korset (Swedish Red Cross) with Adlersparre, General Major Rudebeck, and Dr. Lemchen.
(1852-1867) and Rector of Uppsala University (1861-1862). He was Supreme Court Justice (1868-1889) and became a member of the International Court of Justice
at The Hague
from 1902.
Roos moved to Uppsala
and became stepmother to her husband's son and three daughters. Their marriage also produced a daughter and a son.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. She is one of the three great pioneers of the organized women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
movement in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, alongside Fredrika Bremer
Fredrika Bremer
Fredrika Bremer was a Swedish writer and a feminist activist. She had a large influence on the social development in Sweden, especially in feminist issues.-Background:...
and Sophie Adlersparre
Sophie Adlersparre
Carin Sophie Adlersparre née Leijonhufvud , was a Swedish feminist, publisher, editor, writer and friherinna...
.
Biography
Rosalie Ulrika Roos was born into a wealthy family. She grew up in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
and was among the first students at Wallinska girls' school in Stockholm Wallinska flickskolan, the oldest girls' school in Sweden dating to 1831. The family moved in 1839 to Sjogeris at the foot of the mountainous plateau, Mösseberg in Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
.
One of her friends, Hulda Hahr, was a teacher at a girls' school in Limestone, a town near Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and offered her a position on the school. She traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1851, and stayed there for four years. Roos was first a teacher of French at the school in Limestone, then she became a governess
Governess
A governess is a girl or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. In contrast to a nanny or a babysitter, she concentrates on teaching children, not on meeting their physical needs...
at the plantation of two of her students, Eliza and Annie Peronneau. She later wrote a description of her stay and of the culture of the American South. She did not notice any abuse of the slaves herself, but she considered slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
to be unnatural and "emotionally disgusting," and was convinced that its abolition was unavoidable, though it would meet with much resistance. She returned to Sweden in 1855.
In 1859, she founded the paper Tidskrift för hemmet ("Journal for the Home") in companionship with her friend Sophie Adlersparre with financial support of Fredrika Limnell
Fredrika Limnell
–Fredrika Limnell née Forssberg , was a Swedish philanthropist, mecenate, feminist and salonist.- Biography :...
. The paper was a feminist publication, which argued for women's rights, particularly the right to higher education and profession. They wrote many of the articles themselves. It was published in Stockholm from 1859 to 1885.
In 1861, Roos and Adlersparre made a journey through Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to compare the difference within the feminist movements, and reported that the movement was little known in Germany and France in comparison to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
In 1864, she took part in the founding of Svenska Röda Korset (Swedish Red Cross) with Adlersparre, General Major Rudebeck, and Dr. Lemchen.
Personal life
In 1857 she married a widower, Swedish lawyer, statesman and professor, Knut Olivecrona (1817-1905). Olivecrona was professor of law at Uppsala UniversityUppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
(1852-1867) and Rector of Uppsala University (1861-1862). He was Supreme Court Justice (1868-1889) and became a member of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
from 1902.
Roos moved to Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
and became stepmother to her husband's son and three daughters. Their marriage also produced a daughter and a son.
Works
- Resa till Amerika (A Journey to the Americas) documentary, 1851–55
- Mary Carpenter 1887
- Spridda blad (Spread leafs) poem, 1889
Other sources
- Ulf Beijbom (in Swedish) : Utvandrarkvinnor. Svenska kvinnoöden i Amerika (Women Emigrants. Destinys of Swedish women in America) (2006)
- Carin Österberg (in Swedish): Svenska Kvinnor. Föregångare, nyskapare (Swedish Women. Predecessors, pioneers) (1990)