Women's struggle for citizenship

The women's cause and the fight for women's rights officially came on the political agenda in 1871 when the Danish Women's Society was founded.

This year marks 150 years since the first women's organisation was established in Denmark. It happened on 24 February, 1871, when the couple Mathilde and Fredrik Bajer together with a handful of women took the initiative to found the Danish Women's Society. It was the start of a long and tough struggle for a female citizenship that gave unmarried as well as married women civil rights on an equal footing with men. A struggle for gender equality, which is still - 150 years later - in full swing.

We mark the 150th anniversary with a number of stories about some of the many struggles for equality, which the Danish Women's Society has worked for since 1871.

We start with the story of the foundation of the Danish Women's Society and the significance it has had and continues to have today.

In addition, you can read about the suffrage movement, women priests, the "vote for a woman" campaigns for the parliamentary elections, the women's movement as a developer, and married women's demands to be taxed on their own income.

You can also get an overview of the most important milestones in the history of Danish gender equality and get tips on where you can find more information.

Denmark's first women's organisation

Frederik Bajer is sitting with a book. His wife, Mathilde Bajer, sits by his side.

In 1871, the Danish Women's Society was founded and an organised struggle to improve women's rights had begun.

Political citizenship

The women wear white dresses and carry banners.

The struggle for the right to vote became a popular cause during the 1900s, and the victory in 1915 was marked by a demonstration procession through Copenhagen.

The struggle for female priests

A male priest and three female priests stand side by side.

In 1921 women gained access to all public offices - except in the church and the military! Thus, female priests became one of the most important demands of the women's movement.

More women in Parliament, thank you!

A woman is standing on a podium in a paneled room. Everyone else in the room are men.

Since 1918, the proportion of female politicians in Parliament had been 2-5%. In 1943, the women's movement's patience ran out and the first "Vote for a Woman" campaign was launched.

A house for women

Photo of the Women's Building with blue sky as background.

After 40 years of intense work, the women's movement finally got its own house and meeting place in 1936, when the Women's Building in Copenhagen was completed.

When married women became taxpayers

Woman sitting by industrial machine in factory

It was not until 1970 that the tax legislation was changed so that married women had the right to pay tax on their own income. Before, the husbands had been taxed on the their wives' income.

Political milestones for women

Students dance around in a circle wearing white dresses and student caps

The women's movement's struggle to provide women with the same formal rights as men took most of 100 years. Here is an overview of the most important victories.

If you want to know more

Do you feel like immersing yourself further in the history of feminism in Denmark? Then we will direct you to a number of key works - most with direct digital access.