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Mathilde Malling HauschultzDanish lawyer and first female politician
Date of Birth: 02.12.1885
Country:  Denmark |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Matilde Johanne Malling was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on December 2, 1885, to Gustav Frederik Ludvig Vilhelm Schneider Malling, a supreme court attorney, and Hortense Martina Malmberg. As a child from a well-to-do family, Malling attended Laura Engelhardt's School and graduated in 1905. She then pursued a law degree at the University of Copenhagen, obtaining her Juris Candidate in 1911.
Legal Career
Upon graduation, Malling joined her father's law firm, becoming a supreme court attorney and her father's assistant in 1914. She married supreme court attorney Rudolf Hauchultz in 1915. Together, they took over her father's practice after his passing in 1919. Malling gained recognition as a skilled advocate, following in the footsteps of Henni Magnussen.
Political Activism
Malling became actively involved in advocating for better home defense in 1907 by joining the Danish Women's Defense Association. In 1914, she co-founded the Danish Women's Conservative Association, the first women's organization with a party-political affiliation. By 1918, she had risen in prominence within the Conservative People's Party, urging the inclusion of women as candidates for the 1918 election.
Women in Government
In the 1918 election, Malling ran with Karen Ankersted for the Conservative People's Party and was one of the first four women to be elected to the Folketing, the Danish national parliament. Two other women were elected that year: Helga Larsen for the Social Democrats and Elna Munch for the Social Liberals.
Parliamentary Career
After Ankersted's passing in 1921, Malling became the sole female conservative representative in Parliament. She worked to improve legal conditions for housewives and children while continuing to advocate for national defense. She frequently published in magazines and newspapers.
Legacy
Malling passed away on December 30, 1929, at the age of 44, reportedly due to overwork. She was buried in Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen. Matilde Johanne Malling remains a significant figure in Danish history, having paved the way for women in politics and leaving a lasting legacy through her advocacy for social and legal reforms.
