Eline Hansen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eline Hansen
Eline Hansen c. 1916
Born	Eline Johanne Frederikke Hansen (1859-10-22)22 October 1859 Assens, Denmark
Died	6 January 1919(1919-01-06) (aged 59) Copenhagen, Denmark
Nationality	Danish
Occupation	Educator, Suffragists
Known for	co-founding Danske Kvinders Nationalråd and Danske Kvinders Fredskæde

Eline Johanne Frederikke Hansen (born October 22, 1859 – died January 6, 1919) was an important Danish woman. She was a leader who worked for women's rights and for peace.

Eline Hansen's Early Life and Education

Eline Hansen was born in Assens, Denmark on October 22, 1859. Her parents were Christian Jacob Hansen and Johanne Margrethe Rasmussen.

She studied to become a teacher in Copenhagen from 1876 to 1877. Eline officially became a teacher in 1883. She taught at a girls' school in Aarhus from 1884 to 1889. Later, she taught in public schools in Copenhagen until 1910.

Working for Equality in Schools

Eline became interested in gender equality (meaning fairness between boys and girls, and men and women) when she was a student. As a teacher, she worked hard to make sure male and female students and teachers were treated equally.

Pioneering School Kitchens

Eline Hansen was a pioneer in Denmark. She became one of the first school kitchen inspectors. This meant she checked on the kitchens where school meals were prepared. She even went to Norway to learn about this job, with the Danish government paying for her training. She started working as an inspector in Copenhagen in 1897.

In 1898, Eline asked the government to start special university courses for school cooks. Her idea was approved, and the courses began in 1899. Eline herself became a teacher for these new courses.

Improving Teachers' Rights

Eline was also active in school leadership. She was a member of the Copenhagen School Direction from 1904 to 1910. She also led the Copenhagen Public School Teachers' Association from 1905 to 1909. In 1908, she successfully helped to raise the pay for female teachers. This was a big step for women's rights at the time.

Leading the Women's Movement

Eline Hansen was a very important person in the Danish women's movement. This movement worked to improve the lives and rights of women.

Joining and Leading Women's Groups

In 1886, she helped start a local group of the Danish Women's Society (Dansk Kvindesamfund or DK) in Aarhus. She later helped connect the Aarhus and Copenhagen groups. She was a key member of the DK's main committee from 1893 to 1903. Many people believe she helped keep the DK strong during a difficult time when the women's movement was divided.

In 1899, she also helped create the Dansk Kvinderaad, which later became the Danske Kvinders Nationalråd (DKN). This group worked to unite different women's organizations. From 1915 to 1916, she organized events to help poor housewives.

International Work and Peace Efforts

Eline was also involved in international women's rights. She worked as an interpreter at the International Alliance of Women's meeting in Copenhagen in 1906. An interpreter helps people who speak different languages understand each other.

During World War I, Eline worked hard to keep women from Germany and Britain connected. In 1915, she went to an international women's peace conference in The Hague. When she returned, she helped start a peace movement called Danske Kvinders Fredskæde. This group later became known as the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in Denmark. She co-founded it with other important women like Thora Daugaard, Clara Tybjerg, Louise Wright, and Eva Moltesen.

Fighting for Women's Right to Vote

Eline Hansen was very active in the fight for women's suffrage, which is the right for women to vote. She was even the leader of one of the Danish groups working for this right. In 1918, after women finally got the right to vote, she ran for parliament. However, she was not elected.

Eline Hansen passed away on January 6, 1919, in Copenhagen.