The Icelandic Canadian - 01.05.2008, Síða 32

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 61 #2
enabling others, and (4) altruism.
1. Learning. Benedictsson integrated
training, instruction, development, and
education into her life and encouraged
other people to learn, to keep learning and
to share that knowledge with others. This
learning included academic instruction
and/or awareness of social concerns; or the
study of one’s own religious beliefs; or
learning how to debate ideas or speak in
public. Benedictsson valued learning and
worked to earn money so she could attend
Bathgate College for two years, and the
Winnipeg Business School, where she
developed her secretarial and written skills.
She raised money in her church and in
Icelandic organizations to sponsor girls in
school and to create scholarships. Her lec-
tures encouraged Manitoba women to
lobby for the vote. As editor, she steered
the publication and content of Freyja.
Readers (mainly Icelandic women) of this
publication could learn about critical issues
related to human and women’s rights. She
wrote stories (although often under a pen
name) to inform the public and readers of
issues relevant to human rights. She lec-
tured on human rights and issues of suf-
frage to inform and garner support for the
suffrage movement. Benedictsson pursued
continuous learning through letter writing
to key suffragettes, developing articles for
Freyja, writing short stories, and directing
church work and local organizations to
help the needy, particularly, Icelandic
immigrants, and lecturing. As mentioned
earlier in Prentice et al., (1996, p. 172-173),
members of the women’s movement
believed that education was one means for
women to improve their lot in life. This
pattern of continuous learning and sharing
about women’s issues could provide a visi-
ble example to other women and girls in
her church, organizations, and Manitoba
communities (Weiss & Rinear, 2002, p.
199).
2. Religious Foundation.
Benedictsson’s biographical profile
provided evidence of her active member-
ship and participation in the Unitarian
Church. Her story tells of service working
as a member of the Unitarian Ladies Aid;
of being married in the church and of uti-
lizing the women’s church group to spread
the importance of suffrage.. Benedictsson’s
religious foundation was critical in her life
and to the service she gave Manitoba com-
munities.
3. Enabler of Others. It is understood
that the term enabler refers to the concept
of giving a person the means to do some-
thing; making possible; or empowering a
person to take certain action. Benedictsson
reached out to others to help them learn,
grow, and understand important issues of
the day. Benedictsson enabled others
through her example as a speaker, writer,
wife and mother, church member, and
organizational leader. Her stories could
cause people to reflect upon issues of
human rights, working conditions, suf-
frage. Kinnear (1987) stated, “Her impor-
tance in Manitoba derives from her editing,
printing and publishing of Freyja, 1898-
1910. The magazine served a responsive
audience” (p. 25). The advertisements in
Freyja were both in Icelandic and English.
Her commitment to the suffrage movement
in Manitoba, her lectures across the
province and her leadership and voice in
various social, cultural and religious orga-
nizations enabled the development of a
profile of importance for women’s issues.
One Icelandic writer, Kristjanson (c. 1965)
suggested Benedictsson balanced her
household and childcare responsibilities
with her passion for the suffrage move-
ment, by writing and speaking in the
evenings (p. 372). In addition, Benedictsson
helped raise funds in the Icelandic commu-
nity to provide the means for others to bet-
ter their economic position through educa-
tion and training.
4. Altruism. The final theme of altru-
ism, or concern for others, permeates the
life and social conscience of Benedictsson.
Altruism refers to unselfishness and con-
cern for other people, usually outside the
family. The importance of the Social
Gospel movement surely influenced and
may have been a driving force behind this
action. This concern for others is woven
through the various characteristics of ser-
vant-leadership.
Benedictsson knew as a young girl in
Iceland that she wanted to help those