Born: 1853 (Varde, Denmark)
Died: 1934
Biography:
Anne Kirstine Bruun (1853–1934) was a Danish schoolteacher and women’s rights activist. She was born on February 14, 1853, in Varde, Denmark. Bruun was the daughter of Hans Christian Bruun, a tailor, and Kirstine Dorthea Terpager. Despite her parents’ objections, she pursued her passion for education and became a pioneering advocate for gender equality in the teaching profession.
During her early years, Bruun worked as a housemaid for an elderly lady in Varde. It was during this time that she discovered the opportunities for women to become teachers through the journal Blade fra danske Kvinder and articles by Natalie Zahle in the newspaper Fædrelandet. Inspired by these writings, Bruun overcame her parents’ objections and passed the Beyer, Bohr og Femmer’s examination for women teachers at the age of 21. She then attended Ludvig Trier’s course in lecturing, further enhancing her skills as an educator.
In 1875, Bruun became an assistant in the newly established parish mission in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen, where she conducted children’s services in St. Stephen’s Church. Bruun was deeply influenced by the teachings of Rudolph Frimodt, who headed Copenhagen’s Inner Mission. Her role as a teacher and her strong Christian faith instilled in her a sense of duty towards improving the lives of women and children.
Bruun joined the Municipal School Authority for Copenhagen and Frederiksberg in 1874, beginning her long and impactful career as a teacher. She taught primarily in Copenhagen schools and eventually retired from Sundholm Skole. In 1896, Bruun played a crucial role in the establishment of the Foundation for the Education of the Needy Children of Teachers, known as Fonden for trængende Lærerbørns Uddannelse. This foundation aimed to support the education of children of teachers who were facing financial difficulties.
In 1900, Bruun achieved another significant milestone in her career when she became the first woman to serve on the central committee of the Danish Union of Teachers, also known as Danmarks Lærerforening. She held this position until 1915 and made invaluable contributions to the development of a new curriculum for the authority’s schools. Bruun’s efforts were instrumental in advancing the cause of equal pay for male and female teachers. In 1908, her work on new legislation led to the establishment of starting salaries for women teachers at a level comparable to those for men.
Alongside her work in education, Bruun was an active member of the Danish Women’s Society. She frequently contributed to their magazine, Kvinden og Samfundet, and even served as its editor for a period in the mid-1890s. Bruun shared the Society’s commitment to women’s rights and was an advocate for their direct involvement in the fight for women’s voting rights.
Furthermore, Bruun played a crucial role in combating public prostitution. She became a member of the organization Foreningen imod Lovbeskyttelse for Usædelighed (FLU), which fought against public prostitution. In 1898, she was appointed to its board of directors, and her powerful oratory skills made her the organization’s most talented speaker. When legislation was passed against public prostitution in 1907, FLU was dissolved, and Bruun became a co-founding member of Vagten mod Offentlig Prostitution (Guard against Public Prostitution).
Throughout her life, Bruun fiercely fought against sex trafficking and served on the Danish branch of the Committee for the Abolition of the Traffic in Women and Children. Her tireless efforts in the field of women’s rights and education have left a lasting impact on Danish society.
Anne Kirstine Bruun passed away in 1934, leaving behind a legacy of pioneering women’s rights activism and a commitment to equitable education. Her unwavering dedication to gender equality and social justice continues to be an inspiration to women around the world.