Ingunn Norderval

Women and the Nobel Peace Prize Ingunn Norderval

Previous nominees to the Nobel Peace Prize include some surprising but well-known names, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Maria Montessori, Eva Peron, and Helen Keller. Alfred Nobel had a woman in mind as the first recipient when he created the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet, the Peace Prize has been awarded to far fewer women than men during the century since its inception. Have the world's most influential female peace activists been fairly recognized? Or were their efforts undervalued compared to their male counterparts, who have historically ended up with far more Prizes?




Ingunn Norderval has done groundbreaking research, delving into the notes of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, looking at all of the women who were nominated for the Peace Prize from 1901 to 1960, and all who won the prize after 1960. The Committee's notes are kept secret for 50 years. Only now can we understand the reasoning behind the committee's decisions. Some of the nominated women became Nobel Laureates. Many did not. Some were known in their times but have been forgotten, until now. Norderval digs into the archives to find out who they really were and what made them tick. These women, many of whom were bold enough to work for peace in the darkest of times, all made personal sacrifices. Read their stories.