Born: 1823 (Mern, Denmark)
Died: 1891
Biography:
Line Luplau (1823–1891) was a Danish feminist and suffragist who played a significant role in the women’s suffrage movement in Denmark. Born on April 22, 1823, in Mern, she was the daughter of the vicar Hans Christian Monrad and Ferdinandine Henriette Gieertsen. In 1847, she married the vicar Daniel Carl Erhard Luplau. Luplau’s journey towards becoming a feminist advocate began with her growing frustration over the fact that women were denied full rights as humans simply because of their sex.
Luplau’s interest in women’s rights deepened during the public debate that followed the release of the controversial novel Clara Raphael by Mathilde Fibiger in 1851. At this time, her husband was serving as a vicar in a parish in Slesvig-Holsten. However, they were forced to relocate to Varde when Denmark lost this territory after the war in 1864.
In Varde, Luplau founded a charity organization and became the first woman in Denmark to deliver a speech at a national celebration. Motivated by her firm belief in woman suffrage and equal political rights, she joined the local branch of the women’s organization Dansk Kvindesamfund (DK) alongside her husband and daughter Marie Luplau in 1872. However, her views on women’s rights positioned her in the opposition group within the DK.
Luplau ardently advocated for women’s suffrage and was a strong supporter of the newly-founded women’s organization Kvindelig Fremskridtsforening (KF) in 1885. In 1886, after her husband’s retirement, she relocated to Copenhagen and represented KF at the first Nordic women’s conference in the city. During this conference, she and Johanne Meyer presented women’s suffrage as one of the main issues within women’s rights.
As one of the leading figures in the Danish women suffrage movement, Luplau served on the board of the KF paper, Hvad vi vil, alongside influential figures like Matilde Bajer, Anna Nielsen, and Massi Bruhn. In 1889, she co-founded the Danish suffrage movement, Kvindevalgretsforeningen (KVF), together with Louise Nørlund. Luplau served as the chairperson of KVF from 1889 to 1891, aiming to establish an organization exclusively dedicated to women’s suffrage rather than the broader focus of DK and KF.
Luplau’s approach as an activist was often controversial, characterized by her strictness, energy, and directness. Her activism evoked strong emotions and sparked debates among her contemporaries. Nevertheless, she was successful in gathering support from both men and various political groups, particularly those on the left-wing.
Line Luplau passed away in 1891, leaving behind a significant legacy in the Danish women’s suffrage movement. Her dedication and tireless efforts contributed greatly to the advancement of women’s rights in Denmark and her influence continues to be recognized to this day.