Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Minna Canth (19 March 1844 – 12 May 1897) was a Finnish writer and social activist. She is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Finnish literature and is celebrated as a champion of women’s rights and social justice.
Life and Career
Minna Canth was born on 19 March 1844 in Tampere, Finland. Her family was relatively well off, and she received a good education, including language lessons from a private tutor. In 1863, she married her cousin, Johan Ferdinand Canth, and the couple moved to Kuopio, where Johan worked as a doctor.
Beginning with journalism, she edited and wrote for the newspaper Keski-Suomi, later going on to publish her own paper, Wapaita Aatteita, with A.B. Mäkelä. After her husband’s death, Canth raised their 7 children alone, managed her family shop selling cloth, and developed her own writing. In 1878, she published her first book, a collection of short stories called Novelleja ja kertomuksia.
Beginning with journalism, she edited and wrote for the newspaper Keski-Suomi, later going on to publish her own paper, Wapaita Aatteita, with A.B. Mäkelä. After her husband’s death, Canth raised their 7 children alone, managed her family shop selling cloth, and developed her own writing. In 1878, she published her first book, a collection of short stories called Novelleja ja kertomuksia.
Canth was also a prominent social activist, and she used her writing to promote social reform. She was particularly concerned with the rights of women and the poor, and she used her position as a writer to advocate for their rights. She was involved in a number of social organizations, including the Finnish Women’s Association, and she campaigned for better working conditions and improved education for women.
Canth died on 12 May 1897 at the age of 53, leaving behind a legacy as one of Finland’s most important writers and social activists. Her work continues to be studied and celebrated today, and she is remembered as a pioneer in the fight for women’s rights and social justice in Finland.
Award and Legacy
Her memory is marked with a statue and museum in her hometown of Kuopio, as well as statues in the other towns she called home, Tampere and Jyväskylä. Finland also celebrates her legacy every year with the Day of Equality, an observance of the advancements she made for equal treatment for all in Finland.
In 1944, a statue of Canth was erected in Kuopio, her hometown, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of her birth. In 1949, the Finnish government established the Minna Canth Award, which is given annually to a person or organization that has promoted gender equality in Finland. In 2019, the European Union designated Canth as one of its “Women on EU currency” and issued a commemorative €2 coin featuring her likeness. In 2019, the European Union designated Canth as one of its “Women on EU currency” and issued a commemorative €2 coin featuring her likeness.
On 19 March 2017, Google celebrated Minna Canth’s 173rd birthday with a doodle.