Born: 1900 (China)
Died: 1990
Biography:
Cai Chang (Chinese: 蔡畅; 14 May 1900 – 11 September 1990) was a Chinese politician and women’s rights activist who played a crucial role in advancing women’s rights in China. As the first chair of the All-China Women’s Federation, Cai dedicated her life to fighting for gender equality and empowering women in Chinese society.
Cai was born in 1900 to a lower middle-class family in China. Her mother, determined to provide her children with an education, sold her belongings to support their schooling. Cai’s upbringing instilled in her a deep belief in the importance of women’s education. Rejecting the idea of marriage, she made a vow of celibacy and focused on her studies.
Cai attended the Zhounan Girls’ Middle School in Changsha until 1916, where she excelled academically. In 1917, she became one of the first women to join the New People’s Study Society, a program initiated by Mao Zedong and her brother, Cai Hesen. This society aimed to empower women by advocating for their involvement in self-help groups and politics.
Seeking further knowledge and experience, Cai, along with her mother and Cai Hesen, traveled to Europe. During her time abroad, she worked in a factory and studied anarchism, Marxism, and Leninism. Cai even attended the Communist University of the Toilers of the East in Moscow, where she engaged with other Chinese socialist feminist scholars.
In 1922, Cai married Li Fuchun, a prominent communist. The following year, she returned to China and pursued a career as a physical education teacher. She taught at the Zhounan Girls’ School, the same institution she had once attended. It was during this time that Cai joined the Communist Party of China, becoming increasingly involved in political activities.
Leaving her teaching position, Cai joined the Central Women’s Department in the Nationalist Party in 1925. Two years later, she became a member of the Central Women’s Committee and assumed leadership in Xiang Jingyu’s absence. Cai’s contributions to the women’s movement were significant, particularly her involvement in the creation of the Marriage Decree of 1930, which emphasized the importance of free choice in marriage. She also played a crucial role in drafting the Provisional Constitution of 1931.
Cai’s dedication to the cause of women’s rights was further demonstrated during the Long March from 1934 to 1935, when she accompanied her husband, Li Fuchun. Their journey across challenging terrain and harsh conditions stands as a testament to their unwavering commitment to the Communist cause.
After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Cai emerged as a prominent figure in Chinese society. She assumed leadership of the All-China Women’s Federation, where she championed the rights and interests of women across the country. Cai’s work within the federation included developing strategies to enable privileged women to play leading roles in scientific and cultural advancements.
However, Cai also faced criticism for her emphasis on technological and economic progress over women’s liberation. Some argued that this approach primarily benefited powerful women and failed to address the needs of lower-class women, reinforcing traditional gender roles.
Throughout her life, Cai Chang dedicated herself to shaping a society in which women were recognized as equal contributors. Her efforts laid the foundation for future advancements in women’s rights in China and solidified her place as an influential figure in Chinese history.