The Icelandic Canadian - 01.05.2008, Side 31

Vol. 61 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
121
Suffrage Association, Titraum (Endeavor),
in Winnipeg in 1908 (Prentice et al., 1996,
p. 205). Her conceptualization of the future
possibilities for women (i.e., the vote,
improved working conditions and home
life), was recorded in Freyja and spoken
about in her speeches. “Mrs. Benedictsson
was an able speaker and she continues her
campaign work in Winnipeg and in the
rural districts” (Kristjanson, c.1965, p. 373-
374).
Benedictsson’s actions at times seem
puzzling. The incident of telling the
women in the Unitarian congregation and
Icelandic community to withhold affection
from their husbands, in order to get them
to support certain initiatives, seems not
well reasoned. She learned from Sigfus,
who had read the works of John Stuart Mill
(1867), about the liberty of women. But,
her articles in Freyja were written under a
pen name and didn’t match her strong
character and support of feminism,
although she probably realized that the use
of a male name as author created broader
readership.
There are several examples of
Benedictsson’s commitment to growth in
her and in others. First, she attended
Bathgate College for 2 years (Bumsted,
1999, p. 21; Johnson, 1994, p. 121) and
Winnipeg Central Business College
(Lindal, 1967, p. 160-161) to further her
own education. Second, she maintained an
ongoing correspondence with Dr. Stowe-
Cullen, the leader of the Ontario suffrage
movement and third, she read the works of
American suffragette, Lucy Stone
(Kristjanson, c. 1965, p. 372). At the same
time, she developed her beliefs and spread
the word of the suffrage movement
throughout Manitoba. She “delivered her
first lecture on women’s rights to members
of Winnipeg’s Icelandic community”
(Johnson, 1994, p. 121-122) on February 2,
1893. The couple published Freyja to pro-
mote learning and growth and understand-
ing in others of women’s rights; she helped
raise money to pay for girls to attend
school (Lindal, 1967, p. 160). She and her
husband opened their home to meetings of
the Verse-Making Club where poets shared
their verses and discussed their literary
works (Kristjanson, c. 1965, p. 372).
Benedictsson managed to serve the
needs of her family; the writing and editing
of Freyja; her membership in various orga-
nizations; her ongoing church participa-
tion; and her lecturing in Winnipeg and the
province during her residence in Manitoba.
Sergiovanni (1992, p. 139) suggests evi-
dence of stewardship involves, “personal
responsibility to manage one’s life and
affairs with proper regard to the rights of
other people and for the common welfare.”
Johnson (1994) writes “she wasn’t satisfied
with a merely passive interest in justice for
women; she determined to do something
about it. She felt that her part in the strug-
gle would be that of converting the
Icelandic women to the Cause” (p. 121).
Her contribution to the cause of
provincial suffrage and the communities in
Manitoba are recognized by historians
Kinnear, (1998); Thor, (2002); and Wolf,
(1996), in particular. Her obituary in the
Icelandic Manitoba paper, Heimskringla
(December 19, 1956, p. 1), acknowledges
her as an “important Icelandic Canadian
woman” and “editor of Freyja for 12
years.” Wolf (1996, p. 17, 23) speaks of the
momentum generated among Manitoba
communities by the lectures Benedictsson
delivered. Her sense of community build-
ing was evident in her contribution of time
and money to the Unitarian Church and
Icelandic communities and the community
of women in Manitoba for whom she advo-
cated.
The story of Benedictsson frequently
reflects evidence of having and seeing the
“big picture” in her mind. She formulated
ideas:
• To fight for human rights.
• To champion women’s suffrage.
• To motivate women to challenge
the status quo.
• To provide opportunities for girls
in education.
• To co-create Freyja.
• To make a difference in society.
Even as a young girl Iceland, she was con-
cerned about injustice and vowed to
address these.
Four themes permeate her life: (1)
learning, (2) religious foundation, (3)