Karen Platou
Encyclopedia
Karen Platou was a Norwegian
businesswoman and a politician for the Conservative Party
. Platou was the country's first woman to be elected Member of Parliament.
She was born in Mandal, Vest-Agder
, the daughter of treasurer Otto Michael Stoud Platou (1852 – 1903) and Ida Nanna Amalie Ræder (1852 – 1903). Among the many prominent members of her family were her uncle Christian Emil Stoud Platou
, rail road director and Conservative politician, and another uncle Waldemar Stoud Platou
, brewer and businessman. She grew up in Kristiania – today called Oslo
– and received her education here and in Hanover
, Germany
. After finishing her education she started working as an architect, and also got involved in organisational and political work.
From 1919 Platou had been a deputy representative in the Norwegian Parliament – Stortinget – for the Conservative Party
. In the 1921 election, she was elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of Kristiania, as the first woman in the country. The 1921 election was the first Norwegian election with proportional representation
, which probably helped the chance of a woman being elected. Her first speech in Parliament was a criticism of then Prime Minister
Otto Blehr
's assertion that chocolate
was a luxury commodity. Platou believed it was an important part of children's diet. She was elected out of office after her first term was up, but continued for another term as deputy representative.
In 1930 she established her own publishing business. During World War II
, Platou worked actively for the resistance movement
, until she was exposed and had to flee to Sweden
in 1942. Platou died in 1950; she was never married.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
businesswoman and a politician for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
. Platou was the country's first woman to be elected Member of Parliament.
She was born in Mandal, Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
, the daughter of treasurer Otto Michael Stoud Platou (1852 – 1903) and Ida Nanna Amalie Ræder (1852 – 1903). Among the many prominent members of her family were her uncle Christian Emil Stoud Platou
Christian Emil Stoud Platou
Christian Emil Stoud Platou was a Norwegian railroad director and politician for the Conservative Party.-Personal life:...
, rail road director and Conservative politician, and another uncle Waldemar Stoud Platou
Waldemar Stoud Platou
Waldemar Stoud Platou was a Norwegian businessperson. He had a long career in the brewery industry.-Personal life:He was born in Furnes as the son of banker Christian Fredrik Stoud Platou and Elise Sem...
, brewer and businessman. She grew up in Kristiania – today called Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
– and received her education here and in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After finishing her education she started working as an architect, and also got involved in organisational and political work.
From 1919 Platou had been a deputy representative in the Norwegian Parliament – Stortinget – for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
. In the 1921 election, she was elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of Kristiania, as the first woman in the country. The 1921 election was the first Norwegian election with proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
, which probably helped the chance of a woman being elected. Her first speech in Parliament was a criticism of then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
Otto Blehr
Otto Blehr
Otto Albert Blehr was a Norwegian attorney and politician representing the Liberal Party. He served as Prime Minister of Norway from 1902 to 1903 during the Union between Sweden and Norway and from 1921 to 1923 following the Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden.He served as...
's assertion that chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
was a luxury commodity. Platou believed it was an important part of children's diet. She was elected out of office after her first term was up, but continued for another term as deputy representative.
In 1930 she established her own publishing business. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Platou worked actively for the resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
, until she was exposed and had to flee to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1942. Platou died in 1950; she was never married.