Kehajia, Kalliopi (1839–1905)
Kehajia, Kalliopi (1839–1905)
Greek educator and feminist. Born in Greece in 1839; died in 1905; educated as a teacher in London.
Kalliopi Kehajia devoted her life to improving the social and intellectual status of the women of her country. Educated as a teacher in London, Kehajia then returned to Athens, where for many years she was the headmistress of the Hill School for girls. Over the course of two years, she also offered an innovative series of 80 open lectures on classical literature and social problems, many of them dealing with women's issues. In 1872, she founded the Society for Promoting Women's Education, an organization which provided both practical training in various crafts and classes in academic subjects. In 1875, by invitation, she went to Constantinople (now Istanbul) to organize the Zappeion School for Girls, of which she was head mistress for 15 years. She traveled to the United States in 1888, visiting schools, orphanages, and women's organizations. Upon her return, she published a series of newspaper articles about women in the United States, hoping to alert people in her own country to the inferior status of women in Greek society.