Strong women in Bergen: "On International Women's Day, we will celebrate, defend our rights, and fight."

De Bergenske and the Bergen Women's Rights Association honour female pioneers and believe it's important that they have a prominent place in the cityscape.

"It's important to highlight and recognise women's contributions to culture and society. In Bergen, both famous and less-famous men have long adorned the city in the form of statues and street names. This must change," says Nina Solberg Nygaard, chair of the board of the Bergen Women's Association, Bergen's oldest association for women's rights.

The association has actively contributed to highlighting women in the cityscape. LGBTQ activist Kim Friele was the first to be honoured through the project "Women on the Pedestal". In the spring, a memorial for sculptor Ambrosia Tønnesen will also be completed, followed by one for author Torborg Nedreaas.

Another person who is keenly engaged in this issue is hotel director and Bergen resident Kjetil Smørås, who has a close collaboration with the women's rights association.

"Most statues and memorials in Bergen have been erected in honour of men," says Smørås, hotel director at De Bergenske.

The city is home to 64 statues of men, but only four of women. When De Bergenske became aware of this skewed distribution, it wanted to contribute to changing things.

Women in Bergen's cityscape

In connection with the renovation of Grand Hotel Terminus, its conference rooms were therefore dedicated to female pioneers. Women were selected who were either born in Bergen or who have had a significant connection to the city, and who have left their mark on history.

In collaboration with the Bergen Women's Association, the hotel has also published a book about these women. Common to all is that they have played an important role in business, culture or art.

"We like to talk about Terminus as a women's hotel," says Solberg Nygaard.

Meeting rooms at Grand Hotel Terminus

The meeting rooms at Terminus now feature the names of Ambrosia Tønnesen, Elise Dethloff and Dorothe Engelbretsdatter. Nygaard believes that these are the right names. She points out that there is generally no shortage of important female names from the city:

"Kim Friele, Amalie Skram, but also early pioneers such as school leader, reform educator and founder of the Bergen Women's Rights Association Amalie Hansen, and library director Valborg Platou, who authoritatively introduced a modern library to the city," she says and adds:

"Bergen's street names also need significantly more feminist elements!"

Also read: Eight strong women you should know about

Why Women's Day is important

Although much has been achieved in the fight for gender equality, important battles still remain, both in Bergen, in Norway in general, and worldwide.

"March 8th is important because it brings together and highlights the power and diversity of the women's movement. When we stand together, we can bring about change," says Solberg Nygaard and points out:

"On International Women's Day, we will celebrate, defend our rights, and fight."

She believes the day should be used to celebrate the victories that have been achieved, which make Norway a better country for women than many countries with which we can compare ourselves.

"We must defend the rights we have in society, especially when we see that these rights are not enjoyed in many other countries. And we will continue to fight the relevant battles," says Solberg Nygaard.

"Violence against women, both in the form of rape and domestic violence, is a major problem in Norway, too. This year, the main slogan of the March 8th parade is Freedom from Violence. This encompasses the entire breadth of violence to which women are exposed, both locally and internationally," she adds.