Marie Jungius

Hendrika Maria Aleida "Marie" Jungius was a Dutch educator, writer, and activist. She was a feminist known for her work in advancing women's suffrage and labor rights, children's rights, temperance, vegetarianism, animal rights, and anti-vivisectionism.
After training as a teacher in Haarlem, she held teaching positions in Den Helder, Leeuwarden, and The Hague. In 1895, she became private secretary to children's advocate, which marked the beginning of her involvement in social reform. In 1896, she joined the board of the Nationale Tentoonstelling van Vrouwenarbeid and played a key role in organizing the 1898 exhibition. She later became the founding director of the in 1901, working to improve women's working conditions.
Jungius was also active in the Dutch Vegetarian Association and the Nederlandsche Bond tot bestrijding der Vivisectie. Additionally, she was a prolific writer, publishing works addressing social issues such as labor conditions, vivisection, and the role of women in society.

Biography

Early life and education

Hendrika Maria Aleida Jungius, nicknamed Marie, was born in Heiloo, Netherlands, on 1 April 1864, to Elias Cornelis Jungius, a Protestant minister, and Augustina Sophia Carolina Henrijette Hooijkaas. She grew up in Deventer, where she was raised by her father, a man of disciplined character, and her mother, a cultured woman who had a profound influence on her daughters. Jungius' mother died when she was 14.
As a child, she was described as energetic and adventurous, with a strong interest in gymnastics and outdoor activities. From an early age, she was aware of the unequal treatment of boys and girls and voiced her desire for gender equality in education. She even argued that young women should be able to serve as soldiers, just like their male counterparts. In her family, she developed a talent for storytelling. At school, she showed a particular fondness for mathematics and physics and also took an interest in botany, creating a herbarium. Her favorite books were fairy tales and stories of fantasy, which inspired her later writing, including the poetry and stories Verzen and Sprookjes van Leven, both published in 1899.

Career and activism

Teaching career

At the age of 18, Jungius began training as a teacher in Haarlem. She subsequently held teaching positions in Den Helder, Leeuwarden, and The Hague. She lived with her close friend and fellow teacher, who remained a significant figure in her personal and professional life.

Career in social reform

In 1895, Jungius began working as private secretary to, founder of the . This role marked the beginning of her involvement in various social reform initiatives. She was heavily involved in organizing the Congress for Child Protection, held in April 1904, an initiative of the National Women’s Council of the Netherlands.
Jungius was also active in suffrage, temperance, and Toynbee work. In 1897, she was elected president of the Hague branch of the Vereeniging voor Vrouwenkiesrecht, serving until 1900. Jungius was associated with the "moderate feminists" who, in 1907, broke away to establish the . Although she sympathized with socialist ideals, she did not join a political party. According to Anna Polak, her strong dislike of anything resembling political maneuvering kept her from affiliating with the SDAP.

Women's labour activism

In 1896, Jungius became a board member of the Association for the Nationale Tentoonstelling van Vrouwenarbeid, founded to organise an exhibition on women's work. The exhibition took place in 1898 to coincide with Queen Wilhelmina's coming of age. Jungius contributed to the planning and organization of the event, including the design of the exhibition layout, coordination of several congresses, and delivery of lectures on women's labor.
With the proceeds from the exhibition—amounting to 20,000 guilders—the was established in 1901. Jungius, who had proposed the idea, was appointed its first director. The Bureau conducted research, published reports, and provided guidance on women's employment. Under her leadership, the organization carried out 37 studies focused on improving women's working conditions and broadening their professional opportunities.

Vegetarianism and animal rights activism

Jungius was a member of the Dutch Vegetarian Association, established in 1894. She supported the idea of a more equitable society for both humans and animals, viewing vegetarianism as an integral part of this ethical perspective. She proposed the creation of a vegetarian restaurant operated by women. E. M. Valk-Heijnsdijk, who had previously worked at the Pomona vegetarian restaurant in Leipzig, was appointed to manage the project.
Jungius was also active in the Nederlandsche Bond tot bestrijding der Vivisectie. She advocated for the abolition of vivisection, viewing it as a moral wrong. Her critique was based on ethical reasoning and references to medical literature, which she used to draw attention to the physical harm caused by animal experimentation and its moral implications. Jungius argued that the practice of inflicting suffering on animals reflected a desensitization to broader social injustices, drawing parallels with other forms of violence such as slavery and torture. She believed that extending compassion to animals was an important aspect of humanitarianism, linking her stance on vivisection to broader social justice concerns, particularly those related to women and children.

Writing

Jungius' writing addressed a wide range of social issues, particularly those related to women's labor, vivisection, and humanitarian concerns. Her publications include Beroepsklapper, which provided a statistical overview of women's employment in the Netherlands, and Een woord over de voorgestelde Nationale Tentoonstelling van Vrouwenarbeid, which outlined the goals of the National Exhibition of Women's Labor. Jungius also contributed to discussions on vivisection, with works such as Bestrijding der Vivisectie. Inleiding and Vivisectie in Nederland, where she critiqued the practice and called for its abolition. Additionally, she wrote on the conditions of working mothers in Wat doet Nederland voor zijn kraamvrouwen?.

Reputation

Jungius was described as slender, with short, blond hair and striking blue eyes. She was known for her engaging personality and sunny charm. According to Willemijn Posthumus-van der Goot, Jungius had a compelling presence, often captivating audiences with her deep voice and her passionate advocacy for compassion and justice, particularly for women and children. Despite experiencing frequent health issues throughout her life, she remained steadfast in her dedication to social causes and education.

Death and legacy

Due to worsening health, Jungius resigned from her position in January 1908 and sought treatment for tuberculosis in the Alps. She was named honorary president of the Bureau shortly before her death in Arnhem on 22 December 1908. Following her death, Anna Polak succeeded her as director.
Her funeral took place at, where tributes were delivered by, Wilhelmina Drucker, and Anna Polak.
In 1909, Suze Groshans established the Marie Jungius Fonds in her memory. The fund supported women recovering from illness or overwork. Although largely inactive from 1930, it was revived in 1951 when Willemijn Posthumus-van der Goot used it to launch an advisory service for women, Van vrouw tot vrouw, which operated until 1965.
In recognition of her legacy, a street in The Hague was named Marie Jungiusweg in 1957.

Publications

Jungius published the following works:

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Bestrijding der vivisectie. Inleiding – Published in: Nationale Tentoonstelling van Vrouwenarbeid. Besprekingen over Maatschappelijk Werk, pp. 123–151
Kinderbond en humanitarisme. Inleiding – In the same volume, pp. 227–244
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De Nederlandsche Kinderbond en de eenheid van alle humanitaire streven
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Over de onbegrensdheid van ons meegevoel
Vrouwenarbeid in de steenfabricage
De gehuwde vrouw en de veldarbeid
Tien jaren arbeidswetgeving
Nachtarbeid der haringspeetsters
Waarom halverwege? Een bijdrage tot de kwestie der loodvergiftiging in de aardewerkfabricage
Wenschelijkheid en werkelijkheid. Een bijdrage tot de kennis van het leven der arbeidster-moeder
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Eenige opmerkingen aangaande den toestand der magazijn- en winkelbedienden in Nederland
– Posthumously published collection