My paper explores the legacy of Maissi Erkko (1872-1936), a Finnish activist in women’s organizations and the anti-Russification movement. Her husband Eero Erkko was a politician and the editor-in-chief in a liberal newspaper Päivälehti. There was a strong ethos of a married couple working together for high-minded purposes among the ...
(Show more)My paper explores the legacy of Maissi Erkko (1872-1936), a Finnish activist in women’s organizations and the anti-Russification movement. Her husband Eero Erkko was a politician and the editor-in-chief in a liberal newspaper Päivälehti. There was a strong ethos of a married couple working together for high-minded purposes among the Finnish intelligentsia in the late 1800’s. During their engagement, both Maissi and Eero Erkko had idealized and optimistic plans for their future. The reality turned out to be more prosaic. Eero spent long evenings in the editing office and restaurants, while Maissi took care of the household and looked after their three sons. Nonetheless, she stayed devoted to her cause and fought for women’s rights. She was also the co-founder of the women’s resistance movement against the Russification at the turn of the 20th century.
Russian authorities suspended Päivälehti in 1904. However, it was soon restarted under the name Helsingin Sanomat, which still is the largest newspaper in Finland. After Eero Erkko died in 1927, Maissi Erkko managed to get the holding of the newspaper company to her family. Maissi Erkko’s son Eljas Erkko became the factual leader of the newspaper. The newly started press baron was not pleased to see his mother interfering with the newspaper’s policy-making. Maissi Erkko was pushed aside and spent her last years desolated, bitter and feeling betrayed.
In spite of her essential role in the women’s movement and in the passive resistance movement, there is no academic research on Maissi Erkko. Some popular articles exist, and they emphasize her strength, courage and determination. In my paper I explore some of the unexamined blind spots of Maissi Erkko’s life. Profound analysis of her correspondence and diaries explains why she activated politically in the beginning of the 20th century. What were the circumstances, did something happen in her personal life or was it just the extreme political situation that made her act.
In her late 50s, Maissi Erkko was looking back and analyzed her early years with Eero Erkko. She saw her “young self” as adaptable, easily manipulated and weak. This seems surprising, and somewhat contradictory, considering the powerful ideals she promoted during their engagement. There is also an interesting conflict between her own self-reflection and the posthumous reputation of a “strong-minded powerful woman” that was constructed after her death and is still maintained.
Reetta Hänninen, PhD candidate, University of Helsinki
reetta.hanninen@helsinki.fi (Show less)