Sophie Adlersparre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sophie Adlersparre
Sophie Adlersparre, photograph by Bertha Valerius (1860s)
Born	Carin Sophie Leijonhufvud 6 July 1823 Helgerum, Västrum, Kalmar County, Sweden
Died	27. June 1895 (1895-06-28) (aged 71) Ström, near Södertälje
Other names	Esselde
Occupation	publisher, editor and writer
Known for	Women's rights activist. Founded the Fredrika Bremer Association (Fredrika-Bremer-förbundet), the oldest women's rights organisation in Sweden (1884).
Spouse(s)	Axel Adlersparre
Awards	Illis quorum meruere labores

Carin Sophie Adlersparre (born Leijonhufvud) was a very important person in the women's rights movement in Sweden during the 1800s. She was born on July 6, 1823, and passed away on June 27, 1895.

Sophie Adlersparre started the first women's magazine in Scandinavia called Home Review (Tidskrift för hemmet). She was also a co-founder of Friends of Handicraft (Handarbetets vänner). Later, she founded the Fredrika Bremer Association (Fredrika-Bremer-förbundet), which became the first women's rights group in Sweden. She was also one of the first two women to be part of a government committee in Sweden. People sometimes knew her by her pen-name, Esselde.

Early Life and Marriage

Sophie Adlersparre was the daughter of Baron Erik Gabriel Knutsson Leijonhufvud and Sofie Emerentia Hoppenstedt. She was taught at home and then went to a special school in Stockholm for two years.

In 1869, she married Axel Adlersparre, a nobleman. She became a stepmother to his five children. Her husband was very supportive of her work to improve society.

Sophie was a big fan of the writer Fredrika Bremer, who wrote about women's rights. Sophie became interested in these issues through her friend Rosalie Roos. Rosalie had lived in the United States and came back to Sweden in 1857 with new ideas about women's rights.

Around this time, people in Sweden were talking a lot about women's rights. This discussion was sparked by Fredrika Bremer's book Hertha in 1856. Because of these talks, unmarried women gained more independence, and women were given full legal rights (like adults) between 1858 and 1863. Also, the first government school for women teachers was started in 1861.

Starting Home Review

In 1859, Sophie Adlersparre and Rosalie Roos started Home Review (Tidskrift för hemmet). This was the first magazine for women in Scandinavia. A kind lady named Fredrika Limnell helped them with money.

The magazine quickly became popular. It was the first place where people could regularly discuss women's rights, gender roles, and feminism in Sweden. Sophie and Rosalie were both head editors until 1868, when Rosalie left. Sophie then became the only editor-in-chief. She used the pen-name "Esselde" for her writing.

In 1886, Home Review was replaced by a new women's magazine called Dagny. Sophie Adlersparre was the editor-in-chief for Dagny from 1886 to 1888. She stayed on the magazine's board until 1894.

Working for Women's Rights

Sophie Adlersparre mainly focused on helping women get better education and more job opportunities. She believed this would help women become financially independent. She famously said, "Women need work, and work needs women."

In 1862, she started evening classes for women. These classes helped women learn skills to become professionals. In 1863, she opened an office that helped women find jobs as secretaries. This office was very successful.

In 1864, Sophie asked the Swedish parliament to let women study at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts just like men. Before this, women could only study there with special permission. Her request led to a big discussion in parliament. In 1864, a new rule was made, allowing women to study at the Academy on equal terms with men.

In 1866, she helped start the Stockholm Reading Parlor (Stockholms läsesalong). This was a free library for women. Its goal was to help women continue their education and have a wider view of the world.

Sophie wanted women to be active in society. She believed that "The more we wish and expect from women's participation in the reform of society, the more important it is that this work is well prepared." Many changes in women's education happened during this time. Women gained access to university education between 1870 and 1873. Also, girls' secondary schools started getting money from the government in 1874.

From 1885 to 1887, Adlersparre was part of a government committee called the Girl School Committee of 1885. This committee looked into ways to improve education for girls. Sophie Adlersparre and Hilda Caselli were the first women to be members of a state committee in Sweden.

Other Important Work

Sophie Adlersparre also helped start the Swedish Red Cross in 1864–1865.

In 1874, she co-founded Friends of Handicraft (Handarbetets vänner) with Hanna Winge. She was the leader of this group until 1887. The group's goal was to improve the quality of women's handicraft work. This was important because handicraft was a major way for women to earn money and support themselves.

Sophie was also interested in Swedish literature. She supported famous writers like Selma Lagerlöf by helping her with money. Towards the end of her life, Sophie was writing a book about Fredrika Bremer, but she could not finish it.

Founding the Fredrika Bremer Association

Sophie Adlersparre is probably most famous for starting the Fredrika Bremer Association (Fredrika-Bremer-Förbundet, FBF) in 1884. This was the first organization in Sweden specifically for women's rights. It was named after the feminist writer Fredrika Bremer.

Even though Sophie was the real leader, Hans Hildebrand was officially made the chairperson. Sophie believed that the organization would be taken more seriously if a man was in charge. However, Sophie Adlersparre was the actual leader until she passed away in 1895.

Sophie thought it was important for men to be involved in the work for equality. So, besides women like Ellen Anckarsvärd and Ellen Fries, she also welcomed men like Hans Hildebrand to the group. The goal of the organization was to "work for a healthy and calm progress in elevating women morally and intellectually as well as socially and economically." The FBF also offered scholarships to help women with their education.

Recognition and Awards

In 1895, Sophie Adlersparre received the Illis quorum meruere labores medal. This award recognized her important contributions to Swedish society.

See also

In Spanish: Sophie Adlersparre para niños