Sophie Adlersparre
Encyclopedia
Carin Sophie Adlersparre née
Leijonhufvud (Helgerum in Västrum
in Kalmar County
, Sweden, 6 July 1823 - 27 June 1895), was a Swedish
feminist, publisher, editor
, writer
and friherinna (baroness)
. She is considered as one of the three greatest pioneers and founders of the 19th century women's rights mowement in Sweden, alongside Fredrika Bremer
and Rosalie Roos
.
, a woman highly intererested in social matters, who had returned after years of travels in 1855. Adlersparre began her career as a feminist by founding the paper "Tidskrift för hemmet" (English: "A paper for the home") in companionship with Rosalie Roos by financial support of Fredrika Limnell
in 1859. This was a cultural paper in which she argued for women's rights
, specifically the access to higher education
and more professions. The paper ran until 1885, for 26 years, and Adlersparre became the sole director in 1868. She wrote under her professional pseudonym Esselde.
Adlersparre actively worked to raise the level of women's education by establishing libraries and evening schools for adult women. In 1862, she organized evening classes for women; in 1863, she founded employment agency
's for women, and in 1866, she founded a free library for women "for a continuating self-education and for a bigger and wider outlook upon life".
In 1869, she married the noble Axel Adlersparre (1812–1879), brother of the famous painter Sofia Adlersparre
(1808–1862). The life of the deceased sister of her spouse also had an impact on her feminist ideas: her husband's dead sister Sofia Adlersparre had been a highly appreciated artist, but she had not been able to study at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
as women where generally only accepted as students with special permission. Sophie Adlersparre sent a demand to the Swedish parliament in 1862 that women should be accepted by law to study art on equal terms (without having to apply for a special permission): this suggestion was debated in the parliament and accepted, which led to a reform in 1864.
In 1864, she took part in the founding of the Swedish Red Cross (1865) with Rosalie Roos, General Major Rudebeck, and Dr. Lemchen. Sophie Adlersparre founded Fredrika Bremer-Förbundet (The Frederika Bremer Society), which is referred to as the first real Swedish women's movement organisation, in 1884. It was named after her feminist predecessor Fredrika Bremer
.
Adlersparre became one of the most well known feminist agitators through her career
as a journalist. The right to vote was, however, never her primary goal: she focused more on other aspects of gender equality
, especially the access to academic education and the access to more profession for women. During her period as an active feminist and social reformer, many of the most important reforms regarding gender equality were made in Sweden: in 1858 (obligatory in 1863), unmarried women obtained legal majority as adults; in 1862, women won the right to vote in local elections; in 1863, several official profession of state, such as school officials and post officials were opened to women; in 1870-73, universities were open to both sexes, and in 1874, girl's schools (of which the first was founded in 1786) were given stately support, which filled the gap between elementary education and the university, and the same year, married women where given control of their own economy.
Adlersparre was also a noblewoman, and many of her efforts were inspired by the new ambitions of the middle and the upper-class women, who during this period began to long for a professional life. Her women's union soon eventually came to be regarded as the feminist union of the upper-class.
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Leijonhufvud (Helgerum in Västrum
Västervik Municipality
Västervik Municipality is a municipality in Kalmar County, south-eastern Sweden, with its seat in the city of Västervik....
in Kalmar County
Kalmar County
Kalmar County is a county or län in southern Sweden. It borders the counties of Kronoberg, Jönköping, Blekinge and Östergötland. To the east in the Baltic Sea is the island Gotland....
, Sweden, 6 July 1823 - 27 June 1895), was a Swedish
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....
feminist, publisher, editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
, writer
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....
and friherinna (baroness)
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
. She is considered as one of the three greatest pioneers and founders of the 19th century women's rights mowement in Sweden, 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 Rosalie Roos
Rosalie Roos
Rosalie Roos, married name Olivecrona , 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.- Biography :Rosalie Ulrika Roos was born into a wealthy family...
.
Biography
Adlersparre lived an isolated and protected life until she became interested in feminist questions inspired by Rosalie RoosRosalie Roos
Rosalie Roos, married name Olivecrona , 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.- Biography :Rosalie Ulrika Roos was born into a wealthy family...
, a woman highly intererested in social matters, who had returned after years of travels in 1855. Adlersparre began her career as a feminist by founding the paper "Tidskrift för hemmet" (English: "A paper for the home") in companionship with Rosalie Roos by financial support of Fredrika Limnell
Fredrika Limnell
–Fredrika Limnell née Forssberg , was a Swedish philanthropist, mecenate, feminist and salonist.- Biography :...
in 1859. This was a cultural paper in which she argued for 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...
, specifically the access to higher education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and more professions. The paper ran until 1885, for 26 years, and Adlersparre became the sole director in 1868. She wrote under her professional pseudonym Esselde.
Adlersparre actively worked to raise the level of women's education by establishing libraries and evening schools for adult women. In 1862, she organized evening classes for women; in 1863, she founded employment agency
Employment agency
An employment agency is an organization which matches employers to employees. In all developed countries there is a publicly funded employment agency and multiple private businesses which also act as employment agencies.-Public employment agencies:...
's for women, and in 1866, she founded a free library for women "for a continuating self-education and for a bigger and wider outlook upon life".
In 1869, she married the noble Axel Adlersparre (1812–1879), brother of the famous painter Sofia Adlersparre
Sofia Adlersparre
Sofia Adolfina Adlersparre was a Swedish painter.She was born the daughter of a nobleman, Axel Adlersparre, governor of Öland, and Carolina von Arbin, and displayed a talent for painting in childhood. When the artist C.F...
(1808–1862). The life of the deceased sister of her spouse also had an impact on her feminist ideas: her husband's dead sister Sofia Adlersparre had been a highly appreciated artist, but she had not been able to study at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
Royal Swedish Academy of Arts
The Royal Swedish Academy of Arts or Kungl. Akademien för de fria konsterna, founded in 1773 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
as women where generally only accepted as students with special permission. Sophie Adlersparre sent a demand to the Swedish parliament in 1862 that women should be accepted by law to study art on equal terms (without having to apply for a special permission): this suggestion was debated in the parliament and accepted, which led to a reform in 1864.
In 1864, she took part in the founding of the Swedish Red Cross (1865) with Rosalie Roos, General Major Rudebeck, and Dr. Lemchen. Sophie Adlersparre founded Fredrika Bremer-Förbundet (The Frederika Bremer Society), which is referred to as the first real Swedish women's movement organisation, in 1884. It was named after her feminist predecessor 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:...
.
Adlersparre became one of the most well known feminist agitators through her career
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
as a journalist. The right to vote was, however, never her primary goal: she focused more on other aspects of gender equality
Gender equality
Gender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
, especially the access to academic education and the access to more profession for women. During her period as an active feminist and social reformer, many of the most important reforms regarding gender equality were made in Sweden: in 1858 (obligatory in 1863), unmarried women obtained legal majority as adults; in 1862, women won the right to vote in local elections; in 1863, several official profession of state, such as school officials and post officials were opened to women; in 1870-73, universities were open to both sexes, and in 1874, girl's schools (of which the first was founded in 1786) were given stately support, which filled the gap between elementary education and the university, and the same year, married women where given control of their own economy.
Adlersparre was also a noblewoman, and many of her efforts were inspired by the new ambitions of the middle and the upper-class women, who during this period began to long for a professional life. Her women's union soon eventually came to be regarded as the feminist union of the upper-class.