Kvinnor - vakna, våga! : En studie kring pedagogen och samhällsvisionären Honorine Hermelin Grønbech

Sammanfattning: The aim of the dissertation is to analyse, in the light of the history of education and of women, ”biographical sections” of the life and work of the Swedish educationalist Honorine Hermelin Grønbech (1886-1977). The focus is on adult education, and in particular female civic education, which set out to encourage Swedish women to exercise their newly won rights of citizenship (1921). The publication of Tidevarvet (the Epoch) (1923-36), and Kvinnliga Medborgarskolan vid Fogelstad (the Women’s Civic College at Fogelstad), of which Honorine Hermelin Grønbech was the rector (1925-1954), are discussed. Her aim was to instil confidence in women, aiming more to make them aware of their opportunities than to tell them what to do; they should have the courage to take on the responsibilities of citizenship. During the thirty years of the College’s existence about 2,000 women participated in its courses, of whom several went on to make considerable contributions to Swedish society. A hermeneutical, biographical approach is taken: there is discussion of her childhood, early schooling and further education, and her educational philosophy as expressed in her life and writing, to show what influenced her in her role as a female educationalist whose life’s mission was to promote a truly democratic society. The principal sources consist of biographical material such as her correspondence, with lecture notes, minutes, interviews, and radio and television programmes.