Gunhild Ziener


Gunhild Ziener née Krakelsrud was a Norwegian socialist and politician. A pioneer in Norway's women's movement, she was the first president of the Norwegian Labour Party's Women's Federation when it was established in Christiania in 1901. Thereafter she fostered its extension throughout the country. Ziener was also instrumental in launching the organization's magazine Arbejderkvinnen.

Biography

Gunhild Krakelsrud was born on 19 August 1868 in Ski in the south of Norway.

Labour Party's Women's Federation

In 1895, she joined a number of women in the Labour Party who formed the Norwegian Labour Party's Women's Federation, which set out to improve the party's press. Initially she served as a cashier but soon made her mark as an effective activist, pressing for collaboration between the trades unions and the political associations. In 1901, she became the first leader of the Labour Party's Women's Federation. An excellent organizer, she lectured widely around the country, calling for organizational change. In 1909, she launched the association's women's magazine, serving on the editorial committee until 1918.
Ziener left the leadership of the Women's Federation in 1904 but served on the executive board until 1918. She was particularly successful in gaining support for working women from the trades unions. She was succeeded as head of the organization by Martha Tynæs in 1904.