Cai Chang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cai Chang
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| Born | 14 May 1900 China
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| Died | 11 September 1990 (aged 90) |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Known for | First leader of the All-China Women's Federation |
| Political party | Communist Party of China |
| Spouse(s) | Li Fuchun |
| Relatives | Cai Hesen (brother) Xiang Jingyu (sister-in-law) |
Cai Chang (Chinese: 蔡畅; May 14, 1900 – September 11, 1990) was an important Chinese leader and a strong supporter of women's rights. She was the very first head of the All-China Women's Federation. This organization works to improve the lives of women in China.
Growing Up: Cai Chang's Early Life
Cai Chang was born in 1900 in China. Her family was not rich, but they were not very poor either. Her mother was very determined. She left her husband and sold her belongings so her children could go to school.
Cai Chang believed strongly that girls should get an education. She did not want to get married at a young age. Instead, she wanted to focus on her studies and work. Her mother helped her avoid an arranged marriage, which was common back then.
Cai Chang went to the Zhounan Girls' Middle School in Changsha. She studied there until 1916. Later, in 1917 or 1918, she joined a special group. It was called the New People's Study Society. This group was started by Mao Zedong and Cai's brother, Cai Hesen. It was a "work study" program. This meant students could work to pay for their education. The group encouraged women to help each other and get involved in politics.
Cai Chang, her mother, her brother Cai Hesen, and his future wife Xiang Jingyu traveled to Europe. While there, Cai worked in a factory. She also studied important ideas like anarchism, Marxism, and Leninism. These were political and economic ideas about how society should be organized. She studied with other Chinese thinkers, including at a university in Moscow.
In 1922, Cai Chang married Li Fuchun. He was also a well-known communist leader.
Cai Chang's Career and Leadership
In 1921, Cai Chang returned to China. She studied to become a physical education teacher. For four years, she taught at the Zhounan Girls' School. This was the same school she had attended as a student. During this time, she joined the Communist Party of China.
Cai Chang left her teaching job in 1925. She started working for the Central Women's Department. This was part of the Kuomintang, a major political party in China. Two years later, she joined the Central Women's Committee. She led this committee when Xiang Jingyu was away.
Cai Chang helped create an important rule in 1930. It was called the Marriage Decree. This rule said that people must be free to choose who they marry. It was a big step for women's freedom. She also helped write the Provisional Constitution in 1931. From 1934 to 1935, she joined her husband, Li Fuchun, on the Long March. This was a very difficult journey made by the Communist army.
After 1949, Cai Chang became very famous in China. She led the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF). This was under the new government, the People's Republic of China. One of her goals was to help women who had good education or special skills. She wanted them to lead improvements in science and culture.
However, some people criticized this approach. They felt it mainly helped powerful women. They thought it did not do enough for women from poorer families. These women often went back to their old roles after the war. Cai Chang's work aimed to support the Communist Party's goals. These goals focused on improving technology and the economy.
