Women's Day: A Tribute to Those Who Dared

Women's Day: A Tribute to Those Who Dared
By Vågespel

It is striking that in 2025, we will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the first organized emigration from Norway to America. At the same time, migration remains one of the most pressing issues of our time. Highlighting the history of emigration is not just about remembering the past but about seeing both the parallels and differences between then and now.

In 2025, we will not only celebrate International Women's Day on March 8—we will also honor the history of those who dared: those who dared to break away from the familiar, dared to cross the ocean, and dared to build a new life. Vågespel, a new podcast, takes us on the journey of Norwegian women who emigrated to America between 1825 and 1925. Who were these women? What drove them to leave everything they knew, and what awaited them on the other side of the ocean?

Much has been written about Norwegian emigration to America, but most often about the men who cleared land and built cities, while the stories of women have remained in the shadows. With Vågespel, we aim to bring these narratives to light. "We want to give a voice to those who did not receive the same recognition in the history books," says Reidun Horvei. "We will hear the women's own words, written in their own hand, shaped by their own experiences."

The Women Who Crossed the Ocean

We meet women like Marta Georgina Larsen, who gave birth to a child during the voyage to America in 1825; Guri Endreson Rosseland, who survived the Sioux uprising in 1862; and Caroline Dorothea Preus, who documented pioneer life with pen and paper. They were farmers, domestic workers, teachers, and traders. They built communities, cultivated land, and preserved their traditions while forging new ones.

Through historical sources—diaries, letters, and narratives—Vågespel provides an intimate and vivid portrait of these women's lives. "They were strong, they were independent, and they created something lasting," says Inger-Kristine Riber.

One example of this is found in the words of the pastor’s wife, Caroline Dorothea Preus, who wrote in her diary: "I often think of the many advantages men have over women. But why should we not develop our abilities equally?" These words reflect both frustration and insight that many women of the 19th century carried with them. It is thought-provoking that the first female professor in America, Maria Mitchell, was appointed in 1865, while women in Norway were first allowed to enroll at universities in 1882.

Facts About Vågespel

Vågespel is a podcast that highlights the stories of Norwegian women who emigrated to America between 1825 and 1925. Through excerpts from letters and diaries written by eight women, the narratives are placed within a historical framework.

• Launch date: March 8, 2025
• Number of episodes: 10
• Content: Stories, dramatizations, and authentic sources
• Contributors: Reidun Horvei, Ragnhild Gudbrandsen, Inger-Kristine Riber, and Katherine Jane Hanson
• Objective: To highlight the role of women in Norwegian emigration to America
• Supported by: Fritt Ord

Vågespel: A Podcast About Women’s History and Migration

The stories told in Vågespel are not just about the past—they also reflect the realities of women today who move between cultures, fight for their rights, and build new lives in unfamiliar lands. They serve as a reminder that migration and the struggle for women's rights are deeply intertwined.

A Look Back—and Forward

When we look back at these women, we see more than just their lives—we see traces of our own. Our foremothers. They lived lives that paved the way for the freedoms we enjoy today. And perhaps most importantly: their stories remind us that equality is not something given, but something that must be won, time and time again.

So on this Women's Day, let us remember those who came before us. Those who stepped into the unknown, who refused to be held back by societal structures or expectations. And let us remember that their fight is not over—it continues within us.

Vågespel. This is their story. This is our story.

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_{Cover photo: Gisholt Machine Company factory, Madison, Wisconsin, 1918. John A. Johnson Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota.}