Born: May 1898 (Jiaxing County, Zhejiang, China)
Died: 1993
Biography:
Wang Huiwu (Chinese: 王会悟; May 1898 – 20 October 1993) was a prominent social reformer and women’s rights activist in China during the 20th century. She played a pivotal role in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a women’s organizer and was a staunch proponent of women’s emancipation. Wang was also known for running the first Communist-sponsored journal that featured articles written and edited primarily by women. She was married to Li Da, one of the founders of the CCP and a prominent advocate of Marxist Philosophy.
Wang was born in May 1898 in Jiaxing County, Zhejiang, China. Her father, Wang Yanchen, was a school teacher, and her mother was illiterate. Growing up in a society with deeply entrenched gender disparities, Wang’s family faced financial hardships following her father’s untimely death. However, Wang’s passion for education and desire for social change pushed her to continue her studies.
Wang received her initial education at the local school owned by her father. After his demise, she attended the Jiaxing Women’s Normal School and later the Hujun Academy for Girls, which was managed by Christian Missionaries. It was at Hujun that she learned English and became a Christian. During her time at Hujun, Wang actively participated in student protests against the Paris Peace Conference. Fluent in English and deeply influenced by the iconoclasm of the May Fourth Movement, she became determined to spearhead the movement for women’s emancipation.
After her graduation, Wang moved to Shanghai, where her cousin introduced her to Marxists. It was in Shanghai that she met Li Da, a Marxist philosopher and feminist who had recently returned from studying in Japan. Wang and Li got married in the autumn of 1920 and lived together with Chen Duxiu, one of the key figures in the May Fourth Movement, and his wife. The couple moved to Changsha, where they had two children, a son born in 1924, and a daughter born in 1925. Wang and Li continued to advocate for women’s rights and published articles on the subject in popular periodicals.
In 1921, Wang actively participated in the First Communist Party of the China National Congress as a guard. She established the Shanghai Commoners’ Girls’ School in 1922, which attracted many aspiring female intellectuals, including Ding Ling, Qian Xijun, Wang Jianhong, and Wang Yizhi. Wang also served as the editor of Women’s Voice (Funü Sheng; 妇女声), a bimonthly periodical that pioneered political writings by women. She fearlessly supported the birth control movement, despite facing opposition from male counterparts.
In 1949, after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Wang moved to Beijing and worked for the Legal Committee of the central government. She actively participated in various social and political activities, advocating for legal rights and gender equality. Wang’s contributions to the advancement of women’s rights and her relentless efforts for social reform have left a lasting impact on Chinese society.
Wang Huiwu’s dedication to women’s emancipation and her instrumental role in the CCP’s early years have solidified her place in history as a pioneering feminist and advocate for social change. She tirelessly fought for gender equality and tirelessly worked towards the betterment of Chinese women. Wang’s life and work serve as a testament to the indomitable spirit of women and their potential to shape societies for the better.