Misplaced Pages

#750249

88-455: NKF was founded on the initiative of Gina Krog and Hagbart Berner by 171 prominent women and men of the progressive liberal establishment, including five Norwegian Prime Ministers, and was modeled after the predecessors of the League of Women Voters in the U.S. From the early years the association worked to bring women into the political mainstream. Traditionally the most important association of

176-577: A humanitarian organization, which grew to become Norway's largest women's organization with around 250,000 members at one point. Historically, NKF was the most important association of the Norwegian bourgeois-liberal women's movement (associated chiefly with the Liberal Party), in contrast to the labour women's movement (associated with the Labour Party), and was traditionally dominated by liberal women from

264-690: A liberal internationalist  outlook and generally supports Norwegian official foreign policy. Starting with the presidency of Eva Kolstad , from 1956, NKF focused strongly on the United Nations , and NKF members have been appointed to key UN bodies including UNCSW and the CEDAW Committee ; the CEDAW convention remains an important focus of NKF. NKF is a member of the International Alliance of Women (IAW), which has general consultative status to

352-537: A founding member of the first Norwegian women's business club. The following year, she was one of the first Norwegian women to engage in a public debate, tackling women's rights in a three-day debate organized by students. In 1884, Krog co-founded the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights ( Norwegian : Norsk Kvinnesaksforening ) together with its first chairman Hagbard Emanuel Berner . The association initially attracted 220 members, both women and men, and

440-589: A human right and argues that women's rights and human rights for all are fundamentally the same issue. NKF has always understood the struggle for women's rights to be identical with the struggle for gender equality , the association's overarching aim since the 19th century. NKF works for the human rights of all girls and women and for a gender equal society. NKF's core issues include "women's political rights, legal equality, women's representation in politics, and gender equality in education, employment, and economic justice " and " violence against girls and women (and)

528-508: A major figure in liberal feminism in Scandinavia. She played a central role in the Norwegian liberal women's rights movement from the 1880s until her death, notably as a leading campaigner for women's right to vote . In 1884, Krog co-founded the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights with liberal MP Hagbart Berner . Over the next two decades, Krog co-founded the Women's Voting Association ,

616-559: A new women's suffrage proposal was submitted to the Storting, and although it received support from more than 50 percent of parliament members, it did not reach the necessary two-thirds support it needed to create constitutional change. Women's suffrage in Norway had formerly benefited from strong support from the Liberal Party. During the 1890s, however, many liberal politicians had withdrawn from

704-452: A professional way. As a result of its focus on legal reform, the association has always attracted many lawyers and other academics. NKF members had key roles in developing the government apparatus and legislation related to gender equality in Norway; during the 1970s, the "Norwegian government adopted NKF's [equality] ideology as its own", and NKF's political tradition is closely linked to the concept of state feminism . In foreign policy NKF has

792-469: A strong focus on the United Nations system. NKF played a key role in the development of women-focused development projects and initiated the establishment of what became the Forum for Women and Development . NKF is generally supportive of Norwegian official foreign policy , and in line with its liberal feminist political platform and bourgeois origins, the association maintained a pro- Western stance throughout

880-556: A talk entitled "Voting for Women", Berner resigned as chairman in protest. Despite her disagreements about the association's direction, Krog edited its periodical Nylænde (New Land) from its start in 1887 until her death in 1916. In December 1885, Krog co-founded the Women's Voting Association ( Norwegian : Kvinnestemmerettsforeningen ) alongside nine other women from the Association for Women's Rights. Her co-founders included Ragna Nielsen , Anne Holsen and Anna Rogstad . Krog

968-446: Is complex, and emphasize that it must be discussed in a nuanced and academic manner, including from a human rights perspective. Among NKF's sister organizations within IAW there are differing opinions on whether criminalization is an appropriate means to help people exit prostitution and combat human trafficking. NKF's U.S. counterpart, NOW , has also been divided on this issue. NKF is part of

SECTION 10

#1732863089751

1056-518: Is in line with developments in human rights law; for example, law professor, CEDAW expert and NKF member Anne Hellum has noted that the CEDAW committee views "women" as a complex and multidimensional category that includes lesbians and trans women, and that both groups are protected by the convention. For example, NKF supported legal protections against discrimination and hate speech on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in

1144-519: Is its honorary membership, which was first awarded to Camilla Collett in 1884. Since 2009, NKF also awards the Gina Krog Prize, named after its founder. Since 2009, the association has awarded the Gina Krog Prize, named after its founder Gina Krog . The prize has been awarded to Gina Krog Jørgine Anna Sverdrup "Gina" Krog (20 June 1847 – 14 April 1916) was a Norwegian suffragist , teacher, liberal politician, writer and editor, and

1232-581: Is located at her grave at Vår Frelsers gravlund in Oslo. There are streets named Gina Krog's Way at Persaunet in Trondheim , named in 1956, as well as in the district of Lambertseter , Oslo. The Gina Krog Prize , awarded by the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights since 2009, is also named in her honour, and the prize is given to Norwegian women for work promoting feminist issues. In March 2013,

1320-560: Is the most effective way to advocate for women's rights and obtain practical results. Norwegian supreme court justice and two-time NKF President Karin Maria Bruzelius has described NKF's liberal feminism as "a realistic, sober, practical feminism". While NKF was modeled after a predecessor of the League of Women Voters in the U.S., it is also generally seen as the Norwegian counterpart of the National Organization for Women in

1408-516: Is traditionally the main bourgois-liberal women's rights organization in Norway and applies a human rights approach to its work for gender equality. Today NKF stands for an inclusive, intersectional and progressive liberal feminism and works "to promote gender equality and women's and girls' human rights through political and legal reform within the framework of liberal democracy ." NKF describes itself as "an inclusive and non-partisan feminist organization made up of women and men who champion

1496-653: The Cold War . NKF has never been pacifist; NKF founded the Norwegian Women's Public Health Association , originally intended as an affiliate of the Norwegian Red Cross that aimed to support the Norwegian military in a potential conflict with Sweden during the dissolution of the countries' union in 1905. NKF's non-partisan position meant that NKF consciously adopted a neutral stance on many issues not related to gender equality, especially issues that divided opinion among

1584-630: The National Association for Women's Suffrage , and the Norwegian National Women's Council , spearheading the presentation of women's suffrage proposals to the Storting (the Norwegian parliament). Krog wrote articles and gave speeches, travelling throughout Europe and North America to attend international women's rights conferences. She was editor of the Norwegian feminist periodical Nylænde (New Land) from 1887 until her death in 1916. She

1672-607: The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy announced that the Dagny oil field would be renamed Gina Krog in her honour. Randi Blehr Randi Marie Blehr (née Nilsen; 12 February 1851 – 13 June 1928) was a Norwegian feminist, liberal politician, suffragist, peace activist and women's rights activist. She was married to Prime Minister of Norway Otto Blehr , and was therefore addressed as "Madam Prime Minister" ( Norwegian : Statsministerinde ) during her lifetime. She

1760-541: The United Nations Economic and Social Council and participatory status with the Council of Europe , and is also generally considered as a sister organization of the National Organization for Women . NKF's logo is a stylized sunflower , adopted in 1894, based on the model of the liberal American suffrage movement . The Norwegian Association for Women's Rights was founded in 1884 by 171 prominent Norwegians, led by

1848-463: The liberal women's rights movement and thus shares the mainstream feminist position on LGBT+ rights . NKF views LGBT+ rights as an integral part of feminism and the human rights framework NKF's work is based on, and opposes discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in all areas, including homophobia and transphobia . NKF has always viewed itself as inclusive and non-discriminatory. Then-President Eva Kolstad wrote in 1959 that

SECTION 20

#1732863089751

1936-404: The 1860s; by the late 19th century, the sunflower had become the main international symbol of women's suffrage. The logo was also used as the logo of NKF's journal Nylænde , edited by Gina Krog . NKF states that the sunflower represents the association's "roots in the first wave of feminism and our systematic work since 1884 to promote gender equality through constructive political reforms within

2024-430: The 1960s and 1970s when the issue of abortion became important to the association. NKF has worked to end violence against women since the 19th century. Since the 1980s the topic has become increasingly important for NKF. NKF has mostly focused on legal regulation of violence, and works closely with lawyers and scholars in the field of women's law. NKF worked to abolish the practice of government-sanctioned prostitution in

2112-476: The 19th century, but the association has focused less on this topic than radical organizations in the modern era. Traditionally liberal/mainstream feminists are critical of prostitution, although they may differ on the most appropriate means to help people exit prostitution and combat human trafficking. Alan Soble notes that "contemporary liberal feminists object to prostitution (...) primarily because much of it involves coercion and choices that are not autonomous." In

2200-423: The 21st century NKF supported the ban on buying sexual services in Norway. In line with its pragmatic perspective and emphasis on human rights, NKF has also been willing to listen to different perspectives in this complex area, with a main focus on combating human trafficking and exploitation. NKF and the women's rights movement pay attention to researchers in the field, acknowledge that the question of criminalization

2288-465: The British suffrage movement helped develop her own feminist views. In contrast to more moderate feminists of the time – who focused on more generally improving the economic conditions of women – Krog's views were considered radical: a demand for full political rights for women. Her goal was the achievement of women's suffrage in conditions equal with men, without compromise. In her arguments, Krog emphasized

2376-633: The Cold War, and argued that the issue was unrelated to women's rights. NKF supports safe and legal abortion, birth control, and reproductive health education for all. NKF initiated the establishment of the NGO Sex og politikk that promotes sexual and reproductive health and rights domestically and internationally. In line with the liberal feminist focus on the "public world"—such as laws, political institutions and working life—NKF originally paid little attention to issues of sexuality, and this gradually changed during

2464-626: The Gender Equality Council and the Gender Equality Ombud, were largely built by NKF members. Key NKF members initiated the establishment of the National Association for Women's Suffrage and the Norwegian National Women's Council . NKF inherited the former's founding membership in the International Alliance of Women (IAW) in 1937. The association also initiated the establishment of the Norwegian Women's Public Health Association ( Norwegian : Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening ),

2552-414: The Liberal Party and had a liberal platform, centered on the main idea of equality for all citizens and based on the idea of fundamental human rights". Lønnå notes that NKF had long traditions, a clearly defined form of organization, an established network, well formulated policies and principles, and that it spent most of its resources on lobbying government bodies in a professional way. According to Lønnå it

2640-631: The NKF has campaigned for are women's suffrage (achieved in 1913), the right to work (in the 1930s), abolishment of the common taxing for spouses (the 1950s), right to equal schooling (the 1960s), the establishment of the Gender Equality Council ( Norwegian : Likestillingsrådet ) in 1972, the Gender Equality Ombud in 1978, and the adoption of the Gender Equality Act (1979). The government apparatus concerned with gender equality, including both

2728-519: The Nordic governments. Kolstad later became a cabinet minister in Norway, the leader of the Liberal Party , and then the world's first Gender Equality Ombud . During the 1970s and 1980s, the lawyers Karin M. Bruzelius and Sigrun Hoel led the organization. Bruzelius became the first woman to head a government ministry as Permanent Secretary in 1989 and later became a Supreme Court Justice. Hoel served as

Norwegian Association for Women's Rights - Misplaced Pages Continue

2816-403: The Norwegian bourgeois-liberal women's rights movement and historically associated with the Liberal Party , NKF is today a big tent coalition with members from the centre-left to the centre-right . The association has always been Norway's most important mainstream feminist organization and has successfully campaigned for women's right to education , the right to vote , the right to work ,

2904-598: The Norwegian Association for Women's Rights has awarded the biennial Gina Krog Prize for feminist advocates. Jørgine Anna Sverdrup "Gina" Krog was born on 20 June 1847 in Flakstad Municipality , Lofoten as the daughter of parish priest Jørgen Sverdrup Krog (1805–1847) and Ingeborg Anna Dass Brinchmann (1814–1872). Gina Krog's brother was barrister Fredrik Arentz Krog . After her father's early death, Krog lived with her mother in Karmøy Municipality until she

2992-418: The Norwegian women's movement, many of whom argued for narrower approaches, focusing first on enfranchising privileged women; before 1900 only men of certain means and position had the right to vote as well. In 1910, the Storting granted universal voting rights to women for municipal elections, extending this to general elections in 1913. Krog was the first woman in Norway to receive a state funeral. Since 2009,

3080-413: The Norwegian women's suffrage movement. That same year, Krog's fellow activist Anna Rogstad was elected a deputy MP, becoming the first female member of the Storting. In 1910, Norwegian women were granted universal suffrage in local elections. In 1913, the Storting voted unanimously to extend universal women's suffrage to general elections. Krog died on 14 April 1916, during an influenza epidemic. She

3168-660: The Penal Code in 2018. NKF's LGBT+-inclusive views are aligned with its parent organization, the International Alliance of Women (IAW) and with its sister organizations in the IAW family. During the 2021 session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) NKF's parent organization, IAW, co-hosted a CSW forum together with NKF's Icelandic sister organization, the Icelandic Women's Rights Association , on how

3256-481: The U.S. The United Nations has been a major focus of NKF since the presidency of Eva Kolstad starting in 1956. NKF is a member of the International Alliance of Women (IAW), having inherited the founding membership of its de facto subsidiary, the National Association for Women's Suffrage . IAW was the fourth organization to receive general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1947. In its international work, particularly at

3344-748: The UN level, NKF cooperates with its sister organizations in the IAW family such as the Icelandic Women's Rights Association , the Danish Women's Society , the Fredrika Bremer Association , the Deutscher Frauenring and the All India Women's Conference . Several NKF members have served on the IAW international board, notably including NKF presidents Margarete Bonnevie , Eva Kolstad , Clara Ottesen , Karin M. Bruzelius and Margunn Bjørnholt . NKF

3432-529: The Women's Voting Association meant that the association began splitting into two factions. All members were middle-class women, and this affected the association's views on whether or not the vote should be granted to women of all classes. Although some, including Krog, continued to argue for universal women's suffrage, the majority wanted to pursue partial, property-based suffrage instead. Krog remained firm in her belief that women must fight for complete voting rights "on

3520-494: The adoption of the 1978 Gender Equality Act, and the establishment of the Gender Equality Ombud . At the behest of NKF and affiliated organizations, Norway became the world's first independent country to introduce women's suffrage in 1913. NKF founded the Norwegian Women's Public Health Association . In line with its roots in 19th century first-wave liberal feminism, political and legal reform remains its primary focus, and it has always concentrated on lobbying government bodies in

3608-425: The association "stands in solidarity with international women's rights and LGBT+ organizations in the fight against these setbacks." In 2023 former IAW President Marion Böker participated in the podcast "Trans Inclusion in the Women's Movement", highlighting how the mainstream women's rights movement is trans-inclusive and how the exclusionary narrative that dominates much of the media is being driven by and playing into

Norwegian Association for Women's Rights - Misplaced Pages Continue

3696-494: The association also advocated for equal pay and for children born out of wedlock to have their paternity recognised legally. In 1885, since the Association for Women's Rights decided not to include women's suffrage on its agenda, Blehr co-founded the Women's Suffrage Association ( Kvinnestemmerettsforeningen ) under Gina Krog 's leadership. A year later, she also helped to establish the Norwegian Women's Public Health Association ( Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening ). In 1903 she

3784-481: The association submitted the first Norwegian proposal for women's suffrage to the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament), but the proposal was rejected by lawmakers in 1890, defeated by 114 to 44 votes. In response, Women's Voting Association members decided to adjust their goals and fight only for local municipal voting rights instead—an idea proposed by Berner. Krog refused to agree to this strategy. In 1893,

3872-524: The association to pursue equal voting rights for men and women, and her position brought her into direct conflict with Berner. In 1884, Krog wrote a series of articles for the magazine Nyt Tidsskrift , entitled "Some Words on the Development of Women's Affairs and Nearest Tasks in Our Country", urging women to take on more leadership roles in support of women's rights. The following year, when Krog gave

3960-404: The best interest of all women and society, "be the captain who keeps a steady course" in the struggle for equality and "set out the main policy objectives and seek to get the government, parliament and local government bodies to implement the reforms that are required;" accordingly NKF views itself as the leader of the women's movement and struggle for equality in Norway. NKF views gender equality as

4048-493: The board members in the first years were several prominent lawyers such as the conservative prime minister Francis Hagerup and the attorney-general Annæus Johannes Schjødt . Historian Aslaug Moksnes has noted that NKF is a women's rights organization, not a women's organization; the distinction has always been important to NKF. NKF is traditionally the main bourgeois or liberal women's rights organization in Norway. Cathrine Holst noted that "the bourgeois women's rights movement

4136-549: The cause, expressing fears that women with the vote would naturally gravitate towards supporting conservative candidates. The women's movement claimed a number of smaller victories during this time: women were permitted to become members of school and child welfare boards and received the right to vote in local alcohol prohibition referendums. In 1896, Norwegian lawmakers granted voting rights to all taxpaying men, but again refused to grant voting rights to women. Two years later, men received universal suffrage. Disagreements within

4224-446: The chairperson of the organisation for over two periods: 1895 to 1899, and from 1903 to 1922. As chair of the Association for Women's Rights, Blehr fought for improvement of the social and economic conditions for housewives, working class and lower-middle class women. She petitioned the parliament to formalise vocational education for women by creating training courses for maids, seamstresses, cooks and housewives. Under Blehr's leadership,

4312-414: The common human qualities shared by men and women, reasoning that anyone who paid taxes and accepted civic responsibilities should receive the same freedoms and political status. Although some suffragists preferred to focus on gender differences, claiming women had special feminine qualities that made them deserving of the vote, Krog avoided using this rhetoric. Upon returning to Norway, in 1883 Krog became

4400-516: The deputy Gender Equality Ombud during Kolstad's tenure and as acting Gender Equality Ombud. In the early 1980s, NKF was responsible for the government-funded information campaign "Women and the election". In the late 1980s, NKF initiated the TV-aksjonen campaign to raise funds for "Women in the Third World", and NKF co-founded the campaign's successor Forum for Women and Development in 1995. During

4488-437: The dissolution, circulating a brochure advocating for Norwegian independence. Only men were permitted to cast a vote in the decision, despite calls from women who wanted to participate. On 13 August 1905, the day of the dissolution vote, Krog led female delegates from the most prominent Norwegian women's organizations into the Storting building, informing government that thousands of Norwegian women wished to vote their approval of

SECTION 50

#1732863089751

4576-545: The dissolution. Having organized a nation-wide poll among women, the women later presented a petition with 300,000 names. The incident impressed parliament members, contributing to serious discussions about granting suffrage to women. By 1906, the National Association for Women's Suffrage had continued to grow, with 40 local branches and 2500 members across the country. The association was increasingly better positioned to lobby politicians in all parts of Norway. Krog

4664-667: The first women to go hiking in the mountains of Jotunheimen , which gave her a reputation as a "mountaineer". She never married. In 1880, Krog gave up her teaching career permanently in order to advocate for women's rights. She travelled to Great Britain , where she stayed at Bedford College and made contacts within the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies , including its leader Millicent Garrett Fawcett . While in Britain, Krog wrote articles and sent them back to Norwegian newspapers, at first using pseudonyms. Her experiences with

4752-401: The framework of liberal democracy ". NKF published the journal Nylænde (New Land) from 1887 to 1927, edited by Gina Krog until her death in 1916 and then by Fredrikke Mørck . Nylænde was the first women's rights journal in Norway and was regarded as one of the most influential political journals of the country in its time. It played a major role in the early women's rights movement and

4840-399: The hands of anti-democratic forces. NKF's president is the highest national-level official and chairs the national board ( landsstyret ) and the executive board ( sentralstyret ). NKF's presidents have been: NKF's logo is a stylized sunflower . It was adopted in 1894, based on the model of the liberal American suffrage movement led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony from

4928-416: The interests of all those who identify as women and girls. Although it grew out of 19th century progressive liberalism, NKF, like modern liberal feminism itself, is not limited to liberalism in a modern party-political sense, and NKF is non-partisan and broadly representative of the democratic political spectrum from the centre-left to the centre-right ; its members tend to be affiliated with parties like

5016-503: The liberal politician and women's rights pioneer Gina Krog and liberal Member of Parliament and the first editor-in-chief of Dagbladet Hagbart Berner . It was modeled after the American National Woman Suffrage Association , the predecessor of the League of Women Voters . The organization's founders included 87 men and 84 women, overwhelmingly prominent liberal public figures. From its establishment,

5104-517: The organization was strongly associated with the Liberal Party ; its 171 founders included five Norwegian Prime Ministers, several leaders of the Liberal Party, and many liberal Members of Parliament, as well as the editors of the large liberal newspapers and public figures such as novelist Alexander Kielland . Three of the first Presidents of the organization, Anna Stang , Randi Blehr , and Fredrikke Marie Qvam , were all wives of Norwegian Prime Ministers. NKF grew out of overlapping milieus connected to

5192-571: The political centre in Norway, such as Norwegian membership in the European Union . Clara Ottesen , the NKF President during the membership debate, was herself a member of the executive board of the European Movement in Norway at the time. NKF refused to support anti-nuclear campaigns in Norway from the 1970s, as it would be at odds with official Norwegian (and NATO) security policy during

5280-500: The political elite and liberal media in Norway, particularly the women's rights association Skuld that had been founded the previous year by the first women to pursue higher education in Norway, but also Læseforening for Kvinder (founded by Camilla Collett in 1874), Nissen's Girls' School , Kristiania Lærerindeforening, the influential political and cultural magazine Nyt Tidsskrift , and the liberal newspaper Dagbladet . Membership has always been open to both women and men, and among

5368-464: The presidency of Eva Kolstad (1956–1968), NKF became strongly involved in international cooperation through the United Nations and contributed significantly to early UN gender equality policies, and Kolstad was elected as a member and vice chair of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 1968, the year she stepped down as NKF President, after being nominated as the joint candidate of

SECTION 60

#1732863089751

5456-884: The presidency of diplomat and psychologist Torild Skard (2006–2013), the former Chairman of UNICEF , NKF renewed its focus on the United Nations, and NKF initiated the establishment of the Norwegian Women's Lobby , the umbrella organization of the Norwegian women's movement. Skard was succeeded as President by Professor Margunn Bjørnholt in 2013, by the Norwegian Parliament's First Vice President Marit Nybakk in 2016, by Supreme Court Justice Karin M. Bruzelius in 2018, and by Professor Anne Hege Grung in 2020. The organization had its offices in Sehesteds gate 1 in Oslo for many years and now has its offices in Majorstuveien 39 at Majorstuen in central Oslo. NKF differed markedly from

5544-444: The rights of all girls and women." NKF's main focus is women's political, legal, and human rights , and Harriet Bjerrum Nielsen notes that NKF has "always been liberal and involved in a broad range of issues." NKF focuses on "eliminating attitudes, laws and regulations that are discriminatory towards women and girls and which prevent gender equality". NKF President Margarete Bonnevie said that NKF will work for solutions that are in

5632-599: The same conditions as men", regardless of class. In 1897, Krog left the Women's Voting Association and subsequently established the Norwegian National Association for Women's Suffrage ( Norwegian : Landskvinnestemmerettsforeningen ) alongside women's rights activist Fredrikke Marie Qvam . In 1899, Krog attended a Congress meeting of the International Council of Women in London, England, where she

5720-512: The same year she married Otto Blehr , a lawyer and a politician for the left-wing Liberal Party who would later become the Prime Minister of Norway ; their son was Eivind Blehr . Blehr became involved in the Norwegian feminist movement in the 1880s. She joined Skuld, a discussion group for female students, in 1883, and was one of the co-founders of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights ( Kvindesagsforening ) in 1884. She later became

5808-449: The second-wave feminist movement in its liberal and moderate political outlook, formal style of organization, emphasis on cooperation with the government and focus on legal and policy issues, and also in its membership dominated by lawyers and academics, prioritization of professional lobbying methods and lack of interest in grassroots activism. Elisabeth Lønnå describes NKF by 1970 as "an almost dignified organization" that had its "origins in

5896-531: The social-liberal Liberal Party , the social democratic Labour Party , the reformist socialist Socialist Left Party , the centrist Green Party , the liberal-conservative Conservative Party , or the Centre Party . NKF seeks the centre ground and to speak for the majority of all those who identify as women and girls, and NKF has always sought broad political support among women and men for reforms aimed at improving women's rights, believing its nonpartisan approach

5984-405: The strengthening of the gender perspective in foreign , security, and development policies." Political rights, legal equality and representation of women in politics is the most important traditional core focus of NKF. Equal education, working life and economic justice is the second traditional core focus of NKF. NKF's main focus in foreign policy is the strengthening of women's rights. NKF has

6072-524: The struggle for gender equality , the association's overarching aim since the 19th century. NKF expressed scepticism towards the term "feminism" as late as 1980 because it could foster "unnecessary antagonism towards men", but accepted the term some years later as it became the mainstream general term for the women's rights struggle in the western world. Today the tradition that NKF represents is generally known as liberal feminism in English. NKF works to represent

6160-623: The struggle for women's suffrage . It was also a leading journal of literary criticism; Marius Wulfsberg has stated that "it was Gina Krog and her [ Nylænde ] reviewers who really made Ibsen famous." From 1950 to 2016 NKF published the journal Kvinnesaksnytt (Women's Rights News) that included news and analysis of Norwegian and international women's rights issues. The editors of Kvinnesaksnytt included Ingerid Gjøstein Resi , Marit Aarum , Eva Kolstad , Kari Skjønsberg , Karin M. Bruzelius , Torild Skard and Margunn Bjørnholt . NKF's highest honour

6248-399: The struggle for equality. NKF has traditionally referred to its political platform as kvinnesak , a term that in this context means women's rights and that has always been associated with the liberal women's rights movement in Norway. However, supreme court justice and two-time NKF President  Karin M. Bruzelius has noted that NKF has always used the term women's rights synonymously with

6336-400: The struggle for women's rights is "a struggle for the free human" and in the 1960s Kolstad was an early advocate of gay rights . Nevertheless, during the 1970s the association showed little interest in lesbian rights and argued that lesbian issues did not concern NKF. Since the late 20th century NKF has more consistently adopted LGBT+-inclusive policies and a more intersectional approach. This

6424-503: The upper and educated middle class, as well as by liberal men. With the increasing reformism of the Labour Party, many Labour politicians joined NKF in the postwar era. Today, NKF is a nonpartisan organization. The 1936 bylaws described NKF's main aim as "women's full equality with men in state and society" and NKF's working methods as influencing legislative processes, cooperating with the government and influencing public opinion. During

6512-401: The women's movement could counter "anti-trans voices [that] are becoming ever louder and [that] are threatening feminist solidarity across borders." NKF's largest chapter, its Oslo branch, noted that "the anti-gender movement is now working systematically in a number of countries and in several international forums to reverse and undermine the rights of both women and sexual minorities" and that

6600-548: Was a founding member of the Joint Organization of Nordic Women's Rights Associations in 1916, and still cooperates with the other Nordic national women's rights associations through IAW. Since 1884, [NKF] has understood the struggle for women's rights as fundamentally the same issue as the struggle for gender equality in society. [NKF] has always been open to all people regardless of gender. [NKF] fights for gender equality and for all those who identify as women and girls. NKF

6688-608: Was admitted as a member of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in 1904. In 1904, Krog founded the Norwegian National Women's Council ( Norwegian : Norske Kvinners Nasjonalråd ), a regional branch of the International Council of Women. The branch was notably active the following year, when the Storting held a national vote on the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden . The Norwegian National Women's Council campaigned in support of

6776-532: Was an early member of the Liberal Party and served as a deputy member of its national board. Krog was strongly inspired by the American liberal women's rights movement spearheaded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton . Krog was regarded as an unapologetic liberal progressive during her time, seeking full and equal voting rights for all women on the same conditions as men. In the 19th century these views brought Krog into conflict with more moderate members of

6864-515: Was based out of Kristiania . It was decided that the association would focus on supporting women's education, work benefits and marriage rights. When Berner drafted the association's mission statement, he declared a neutral purpose of aiming "to provide the woman with her right and place in society". Many association members shared the view that women's suffrage should not be considered a priority, since Norwegian women "had not shown sufficient interest in participating in politics". Krog, however, wanted

6952-596: Was born Randi Nilsen in 1851 in Bergen to ship broker, Andreas Rasmussen Nilsen 1822–98) and Margrethe Andrea Tornøe (1827–1909); she was the oldest of eleven children. She received no formal education but pursued the arts from a young age, including drawing, theatre and music. When she was 17 years old, she joined Vestmannalaget , Norway's oldest language association. She was involved in the establishment of Den Nationale Scene , Bergen's oldest and largest theatre, in 1876, and in

7040-407: Was eight years old, and then moved to Christiania . In Christiania, she attended a school for girls. As a young adult, she worked as a teacher in private schools for several years, continuing to improve her knowledge of languages and literature through self-study. Through her brother, she became the aunt of writer Helge Krog and the sister-in-law of feminist Cecilie Thoresen Krog . Krog was among

7128-847: Was elected the chair of the Norwegian Women's Peace Association ( Norske Kvinners Fredsforbund ). During periods where her husband's political career required them to leave their home in Oslo and live in Sweden, she took on representative duties as the spouse of the Prime Minister and hostess at the Norwegian government's residence in Stockholm . Blehr was awarded the King's Medal of Merit in Gold ( Kongens fortjenstmedalje ) on her 70th birthday in 1921. She died during 1928 and

7216-490: Was leader of the association from 1885 to 1897. She had been inspired by reading The History of Woman Suffrage , a set of historical volumes sent by American women's rights activist Susan B. Anthony . The Women's Voting Association was open only to women members, with the philosophy that women should be responsible for achieving their own political equality. Despite the Women's Voting Association's efforts, however, their initial suffrage proposals were unsuccessful. In 1886,

7304-414: Was liberal or liberal feminist. The bourgeois women's rights advocates fought for women's civil liberties and rights: freedom of speech, freedom of movement, the right to vote, freedom of association, inheritance rights, property rights and freedom of trade – and for women's access to education and working life. In short, women should have the same freedoms and rights as men." Among the important causes that

7392-454: Was named an honorary vice-president of the council, representing Norway. Krog accepted responsibility for creating a Norwegian branch of the International Council of Women, and began making plans. After much petitioning, the Norwegian government granted limited voting rights to women in 1901. Norwegian women who owned property – or whose husbands owned property – could now vote in municipal elections. The National Association for Women's Suffrage

7480-546: Was one of the preeminent leaders of the Norwegian women's rights movement from the 1880s and co-founded the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights , serving as its President from 1895 to 1899 and from 1903 to 1922. She also initiated the establishment of the Norwegian Women's Public Health Association that grew to become a humanitarian organisation with 250,000 members. She was a leading advocate of Norwegian independence from Sweden and took on representative duties for Norway during her husband's tenure as Prime Minister. Blehr

7568-703: Was part of the official Norwegian delegate sent to Amsterdam for the Fourth Conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in 1908. She was an early member of the Norwegian Liberal Party , and in 1909 she was elected a deputy member of its national board. Krog visited Toronto, Canada , for an International Council of Women meeting. She followed up the meeting with a tour of the United States where she gave speeches about

7656-403: Was the "only feminist organization that was primarily based on the idea of gender equality". In contrast to the many new feminist organizations that sprung up in the 1970s but quickly lost most of their membership, NKF was strengthened in the 1980s. The government's gender equality apparatus viewed NKF as its main civil society partner and recognised the association's historical role in spearheading

7744-562: Was the first woman in Norway to be honoured with a funeral at public expense. Several female university graduates provided a guard of honour , and the Norwegian mezzo-soprano Bergljot Bjørnson sang. Krog's funeral was attended by the Prime Minister , the President of the Storting , and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court . A bronze bust of Krog, sculpted by Ambrosia Tønnesen in 1919,

#750249