Thit Jensen

Maria Kirstine Dorothea Jensen was a Danish novelist and author who wrote under the name Thit Jensen. She is known for her short stories, plays, and socially-critical articles.
For her writing, Jensen was honored with the Drachmannlegatet in 1930, the Tagea Brandt Rejselegat in 1935, and with the Holberg Medal in 1940. She was awarded the Royal Medal of Recompense in 1949 and was inducted as a member of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1954.

Life

Jensen was born on January 19, 1876, in Farsø. Her parents, Hans Jensen, a veterinarian, and Marie Kirstine Jensen had eleven children. Her brother, Johannes V. Jensen, was also a well known author and Nobel Prize Laureate.
In 1912, she married Gustav Jéhan Fenger, though the couple divorced in 1918.
She wrote about erotic and social themes and fought for women's rights. In 1917, she founded Københavns Husmoderforening which preceded De Danske Husmoderforeninger and represented the local associations of the organization in Denmark. In 1924 she founded Foreningen for Seksuel Oplysning which worked with Jonathan Leunbach to perform abortions. She was personally against abortion, but felt that women needed to have a choice and was highly criticized for this belief.
Jensen died on May 14, 1957, in Bagsværd and is buried at Farsø Cemetery.