Born: 1856 (Botoșani, Romania)
Biography:
Sofia Nădejde, born Sofia Băncilă on September 14, 1856, was a remarkable Romanian novelist, playwright, translator, journalist, women’s rights activist, and socialist. She made significant contributions in various fields and played a crucial role in advocating for women’s social and political emancipation.
Born in Botoșani to merchant Vasile Băncilă-Gheorghiu and his wife Pulheria (née Neculce), Sofia grew up in an intellectually stimulating environment. Her brother, Octav Băncilă, was a renowned painter. Sofia pursued her education at a primary school and a girl’s boarding school in her native town before completing her high school-leaving exam in Iași.
During her time in Iași, Sofia became part of the socialist circle and dedicated herself to promoting women’s rights through her writing. She embarked on a journalistic campaign, highlighting the need for women’s social and political equality. In 1893, she became the editor of the influential magazine Evenimentul literar. Her works were published in various publications such as Femeia română, Contemporanul, Drepturile omului, Literatură și știință, Lumea nouă, Lumea nouă științifică și literară, Universul, Albina, Adevărul, Noua revistă română, Dimineața, and Arta. Sofia was also an active member of the Contemporanul circle alongside notable figures like Constantin Mille, Traian Demetrescu, Anton Bacalbașa, Paul Bujor, and Ștefan Băsărăbeanu.
Sofia’s articles delved into various topics such as the evolution of the family, women’s role in the socialist movement, biases against women’s education, and the challenges faced by women in both rural and factory settings. She showcased her deep understanding of contemporary European philosophical and scientific theories, referencing influential thinkers like John Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and August Bebel.
In Contemporanul, Sofia launched a campaign against the prevalent notion that women had smaller brains, which supposedly hindered their ability to attain a higher spirituality or participate in politics. Drawing on the latest research, Sofia demonstrated that female brains are proportionally larger than men’s and engaged in a spirited debate with Titu Maiorescu. She then focused on addressing factors such as social environment, prejudice, discriminatory laws, and inadequate education that contributed to women’s backward state. Drawing from Mill’s Subjection of Women, she called for political and civil rights.
During the early 1880s, Sofia brought together women from various groups and clubs to raise funds for women’s education and employment. In the mid-1890s, influenced by Marxist ideology, she shifted her focus to broader social inequality, considering women’s status as a byproduct of capitalism and private ownership. However, her allegiance to Marxism waned, replaced by a growing affinity towards democratic liberalism. She was particularly drawn to the ideas of Poporanism advocated by Constantin Stere, writing for the movement’s press affiliate Evenimentul literar.
In 1899, Sofia, together with her husband and other like-minded individuals, disassociated herself from the socialist movement. She believed it had little traction in agrarian Romania and lost interest in political engagement, redirecting her energy towards literature. Sofia’s literary career gained momentum with the publication of her first fiction, the novella Două mame, which appeared in Contemporanul in 1884 and 1886. In 1893, she released her first book, the short story collection Nuvele. Other notable works by Sofia include Din chinurile vieții and Fiecare la rândul său (1895).
Sofia Nădejde’s journey was one of intellectual curiosity, fierce advocacy, and evolving ideologies. She left an indelible mark as a talented writer, feminist, and progressive thinker, playing a vital role in shaping women’s history in Romania.