Josefina (Josephine) Deland (Stockholm, 1 October 1814 – Paris, 8 March 1890), was a Swedish

feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...

, writer and a teacher in French. She founded ''Svenska lärarinnors pensionsförening'' (Society for Retired Female Teachers), where she served as chairperson from its foundation in 1855 to 1859.

Life

Deland was the daughter of the

ballet dancer A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on yea ...

Louis Deland Louis Joseph Marie Deland (25 April 1772 – 15 April 1823) was a Swedish ballet dancer, singer, actor, choreographer and ballet master in the Royal Swedish Ballet. He is often considered the first native male star in the Royal Swedish Ballet. ...

and the actress Maria Deland. Her father was partially French speaking, she herself visited France during her upbringing, and she was as a French teacher in Stockholm in the 1840s and -50s. She published a book about the French language in 1839. Deland was a feminist, and became a pioneer as a woman's rights activist in Sweden at a point when no women's movement was organized in Sweden, a part from the isolated example of

Sophie Sager Sophie (or Sofie) Sager, (Växjö, Sweden, 1825 – New York City, United States, 1902), was a Swedish writer and feminist. She was one of the first feminist activists and speakers for the modern women's movement in Sweden. She is also known for ...

. In 1852, she raised a public debate about the fact that the state did not provide any pension for retired female teachers and

governess A governess is a largely obsolete term for a woman employed as a private tutor, who teaches and trains a child or children in their home. A governess often lives in the same residence as the children she is teaching. In contrast to a nanny, th ...

es, who consequently often ended up at the

poor house A poorhouse or workhouse is a government-run (usually by a county or municipality) facility to support and provide housing for the dependent or needy. Workhouses In England, Wales and Ireland (but not in Scotland), ‘workhouse’ has been the ...

after retirement. In 1855, the stately retirement fund ''Svenska lärarinnors pensionsförening'' was created thanks to her efforts. Her initial demand that the society was to be organised by women, as well as what was perceived as her "aggressive" behavior, was ridiculed by the media, and the debate was long remembered with her words: "No Gentlemen! No Gentlemen!". She was described by a contemporary as a: "Voluptuously curvy shaped lady, whose masculine behavior would have made a revolting impression, had it not been softened somewhat by the golden shine of her hair and the bright play of her eyes".Josephine Deland, urn:sbl:17409, Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (art av O. WlESELGREN.), hämtad 2015-06-20. In 1859, Deland left Sweden for France. She was succeeded as chairperson of the ''Svenska lärarinnors pensionsförening'' by Sofia Ahlbom. The same year, a comedy play by August Säfström with the title ''Mamsell Garibaldi eller Inga herrar, inga herrar!'' (

Mamsell (from the French ) was a historical Swedish honorific used for unmarried women from about the mid 18th-century until 1866. The title was primarily used for women in the burgher and the clergy classes. The word was replaced after the middle of the ...

Garibaldi Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi ( , ;In his native Ligurian language, he is known as ''Gioxeppe Gaibado''. In his particular Niçard dialect of Ligurian, he was known as ''Jousé'' or ''Josep''. 4 July 1807 – 2 June 1882) was an Italian general, patr ...

or No Gentlemen! No Gentlemen!) had its premier at the Humlegård Theater in Stockholm, caricaturing Josefina Deland.

References

* Wilhelmina Stålberg: Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor (Notes on Swedish women) (in Swedish) * Chief editor: Nils Bohman, Svenska män och kvinnor. 2, C-F (Swedish Men and Women. 2, C-F) dictionary (1944) (in Swedish) * Johan Carl Hellberg : Ur minnet och dagboken om mina samtida personer och händelser efter 1815 / Åttonde delen. Oscar I:s sista regeringsår och riksdag, vicekonung och prinsregeringar, 1856-1857 {{DEFAULTSORT:Deland, Josefina 1814 births 1890 deaths Swedish feminists 19th-century Swedish writers Swedish governesses Swedish women's rights activists 19th-century Swedish women writers