Thina Thorleifsen facts for kids
Thina Nilsine Thorleifsen (1885–1959) was an important Norwegian politician. She worked hard for women's rights and was a leader in the women's movement. Thina joined Den Kvinnelige Tjenerstands Forening (The Women's Servant Class Association) in 1910. This group helped women who worked as servants. She became its leader in 1915. Later, this association joined the Labour Party. Thina then became a key leader in the Norwegian Labour Party's Women's Federation from 1918. She held important roles there until 1953.
Contents
Thina's Early Life and Political Start
Thina Thorleifsen was born on January 17, 1885. Her hometown was Hokksund in Øvre Eiker, Norway. When she was 17, she started working as a maid. She worked for a poet named Per Sivle. He helped her become interested in politics.
Later, Thina moved to Christiania, which is now Oslo. There, she worked as a housemaid for another politician, Kyrre Grepp. In 1907, she joined a protest. This protest was about workers' rights in the paper industry. She saw how strong and united the workers were. Thina later said that from that day on, she was ready to join the labour movement. This movement worked to improve conditions for working people.
Leading the Women's Movement
Thina joined the Women's Servant Class Association in 1910. This group was important for women who worked as servants. She became the leader of this association in 1915. When the association joined the Labour Party, Thina became a leader in the party's Women's Federation.
In 1918, the leader of the Women's Federation, Hanna Adolfsen, retired. Thina Thorleifsen then became the new leader. In the same year, she was chosen as a deputy member of the Labour Party's main committee. From 1919 to 1923, she was a full member.
Creating the Women's Secretariat
In 1923, Thina Thorleifsen and Sigrid Syvertsen started something new. They created the Labour Party's Women's Secretariat. This was a special office for women's issues. It reported directly to the party's main leaders. Sigrid Syvertsen was the head of this new office. Thina worked as its permanent secretary until 1953. She always worked hard for the party's goals.
Thina was very good at organizing things. She was also a strong public speaker. These skills helped her succeed in politics. Many people used the Women's Federation to start their political careers. But Thina stayed loyal to the movement. She supported it until she had to retire because of her health. Thina also served on the city council of Oslo from 1932 to 1934. This meant she helped make decisions for the city.
Writing a Book
Thina Thorleifsen also wrote a book with Sigrid Syvertsen. The book was called Kvinner i strid: historien om Arbeiderpartiets kvinnebevegelse. It was published in 1960, after Thina passed away. This book tells the full story of the Labour Party's Women's Federation. It is the only book that covers its history in detail.
