Karen Platou (9 July 1879 – 10 June 1950) was aNorwegian businesswoman and a politician for theConservative Party. Platou was the country's first woman to be elected Member ofParliament.[a]
She was born inMandal,Vest-Agder, the daughter of treasurer Otto Michael Stoud Platou (1852 – 1903) and Ida Nanna Amalie Ræder (1852 – 1903). Among the many prominent members of her family were her uncleChristian Emil Stoud Platou, rail road director and Conservative politician, and another uncleWaldemar Stoud Platou, brewer and businessman.[1] She grew up in Kristiania – today calledOslo – and received her education here and inHanover,Germany. After finishing her education she started working as an architect, and also got involved in organisational and political work.[1]
From 1919 Platou had been a deputy representative in the Norwegian Parliament –Stortinget – for theConservative Party. In the 1921 election, she was elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of Kristiania, as the first woman in the country.[2] The 1921 election was the first Norwegian election withproportional representation, which probably helped the chance of a woman being elected.[3] Her first speech in Parliament was a criticism of thenPrime MinisterOtto Blehr's assertion thatchocolate was a luxury commodity. Platou believed it was an important part of children's diet.[1] She was elected out of office after her first term was up, but continued for another term as deputy representative.[1]
In 1930 she established her own publishing business. DuringWorld War II, Platou worked actively for theresistance movement, until she was exposed and had to flee toSweden in 1942.[1] Platou died in 1950; she was never married.[1]