Know the story of Greenlandic women

Greenlandic women have always played a decisive role in society, and we will highlight them in celebration of International Women’s Day, 8 March.

Women keep daily life in order

In the Greenlandic myths and legends, the stories of Greenlandic women are often portrayed as strong and powerful women, like the story of Sassuma Arnaa (Mother of the Sea) and Maliina (the woman who became the Sun).

In the past, the Greenlandic woman was not only a wife but also a mother, and housekeeper, the one who prepared the food and took care of all the family’s clothes.

The Greenlandic man was entirely dependent on the woman being able to sew – not just his clothes and kamiks but also the leather covers for the kayaks, which required the finest stitches so the kayak didn’t leak. The best hunters had the most skilled seamstresses – small invisible, waterproof stitches were very popular!

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The First Woman of Education

According to Greenland in Figures 2022 by Statistics Greenland, 1 out of 10 men choose to start higher education, while the number for women is 1 out of 5. In the private sector, handfuls of local boutiques, tour companies and small businesses are owned by women throughout the country.

The education of women was not common until the 1960 and 70s.

The first educated Greenlandic woman was Karoline Rosing, from Paamiut. She was born in 1842 and was the first Greenlander to take the Danish midwifery exam in Copenhagen in 1867. Karoline Rosing was afterwards employed by the Royal Greenlandic Government Trade (Den Kongelige Grønlandske Handel) as a midwife, but no doctors were employed in the colonial district around Kangaamiut.

So, as the only one in the area with medical knowledge, she therefore also had to take on medical work. Among the biggest tasks were treating gunshot wounds and performing amputations. Furthermore, she continuously educated young girls to be midwives who were supposed to work in the settlements.

Women became decision-makers

Around the 1920s, Greenlandic women began to get involved politically. Finally, after the Second World War, women entered politics. In 1948, Greenlandic women finally got the right to vote after almost 100 years with men in politics.

Kathrine Chemnitz from Nuuk was elected as the first woman to represent Greenlandic women in The Greenland Commission elected by the North and South Greenland’s national council in 1949.

In the more modern side of Greenlandic life (think: in the capital city), women are also leading society. Three of the five municipalities are led by female mayors, and 10 women sit in Greenland’s Parliament. Also, both of the Greenland representatives in the Danish Parliament are – you guessed it – women.

Women are your guides through Greenland – in the air, on land and the sea

In a country with no roads connecting the towns and settlements, air transport, ships and boats play a crucial role in connecting the country. If you are lucky, the person flying or sailing you might be a female pilot or tour operator.