THE ROLE OF HERMIN BENICZKY (PÁLNÉ VERES) AND JOSEFINA TELEKI (SÁNDORNÉ TELEKI) IN THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN IN HUNGARY

Abstract

In the 1860s, the issue of higher education for girls was in the spotlight in Hungary. In 1865, Hermin Beniczky published a pamphlet entitled "Appeal to Women" on the pages of the newspaper A Hon [Motherland]. In this program, which she also presented in articles, theses and letters, making a very effective use of the possibilities offered by the media, she defined the importance of educating young women, recommending two directions. On one hand, in order to fulfil the traditional role of the woman, that is becoming a mother, she thought the acquisition of a high level of culture is essential, as well as the acquiring knowledge that could help the practical part of education, from matters of health to pedagogy and psychology.

On the other hand, in response to the social processes and problems of the era, because of which more and more women had to work as breadwinners, she stated that the acquisition of professional qualifications is an essential goal for the education of young women. The National Association for the Education of Women was founded on 23 March 1868, with Hermin Beniczky elected president and Countess Jozefina Teleki as vice-president. As a direct collaborator, Countess Teleki mainly managed the affairs of the association and the school that opened its doors in 1868, using her wide network of contacts. They led the women's education association together until 1895, after which Countess Teleki took over the management of the association together with Szilárda Veres (the founder's only child) as vice-president. The activities of Hermin Beniczky and Jozefina Teleki, i.e., the establishment of the association and of the institute, are interesting not only from the point of view of the history of women's education, but also because the analysis highlights the development of women's movements in Hungary. One can trace the development and formation of the first network of women, to which, of course, men supporting this cause also joined. It outlines the strategies that women participants in the movements subsequently used to achieve the greatest impact and influence in the fields that defined the world of women in a world characterized by social change.