Karen Ankersted

Karen Marie Ankersted Hansen (1859–1921) was a Danish teacher and a pioneering female politician.

[1] Although rather conservative in her outlook, Ankersted was a supporter of women's rights but did not campaign with the activists.

By contrast, she played an active part in Copenhagen Municipality's Teachers Association on its establishment in 1891, becoming its chair for two periods (1905–1906 and 1910–1912).

She was one of four women who were elected, the others — all standing for Copenhagen — were Helga Larsen (Social Democrats), Elna Munch (Social Liberals) and Mathilde Malling Hauschultz (Conservative People's Party).

[3] She was not re-elected in the April 1920 election but only left the Rigsdag until the following August when she entered the Landsting for her last few months.