18 Facts About Sophie Adlersparre

Carin Sophie Adlersparre, known by her pen-name Esselde, was a Swedish feminist, writer and publisher who was one of the pioneers of the 19th-century women's rights movement in Sweden.

Sophie Adlersparre was educated privately at home, and then spent two years at a finishing school, the fashionable Bjurstrom Pension in Stockholm.

In 1869, she married the nobleman commander Axel Sophie Adlersparre and became the stepmother of his five children.

Sophie Adlersparre's husband was described as supportive of her social reform work.

Sophie Adlersparre was an admirer of feminist author Fredrika Bremer and became engaged in feminist issues through her friendship with Rosalie Roos, who returned to Sweden with an interest in women's rights in 1857 after spending several years in the United States.

Sophie Adlersparre worked as editor-in-chief of Dagny from 1886 to 1888 and remained on the paper's board until 1894.

Sophie Adlersparre did not focus on women's suffrage, though women were granted municipal suffrage in Sweden in 1862.

In 1864, inspired by her future sister-in-law, Sofia Sophie Adlersparre, she petitioned the Swedish parliament to allow women to study at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts on equal terms with men.

At the time, the Academy only let women study on special dispensation, and although she was a successful artist, Sofia Sophie Adlersparre was not allowed to study there.

Sophie Adlersparre's petition led to a debate in parliament, and finally a reform in 1864 allowing women to study at the Academy on the same terms as men.

Sophie Adlersparre was an early member of the women's association Nya Idun, joining in 1885, the same year it was founded.

In 1874, Sophie Adlersparre co-founded Friends of Handicraft with Hanna Winge and served as its chairperson until 1887.

Sophie Adlersparre was an admirer of Viktoria Benedictsson and she supported Selma Lagerlof financially during her work.

Sophie Adlersparre is perhaps best known as the founder of the Fredrika Bremer Association in 1884, the first women's rights organisation in Sweden, named for feminist author Fredrika Bremer.

Formally, the women's rights supporter Hans Hildebrand was made the official chair of the FBF, because Sophie Adlersparre believed that it would be taken more seriously if it was headed by a man.

However, Sophie Adlersparre acted as the de facto chairperson until her death in 1895, when she was succeeded by Agda Montelius.

Sophie Adlersparre felt that it was important for men to be a part of the work for equality, and in addition to women such as Ellen Anckarsvard, Ellen Fries, Gertrud Adelborg and Fredrika Limnell, she welcomed men such as Hans Hildebrand and Gustav Sjoberg.

Sophie Adlersparre was awarded the Illis quorum meruere labores medal in 1895 for her contributions to Swedish society.