Marie Adam-Doerrer facts for kids

Marie Adam-Doerrer (born March 23, 1838 – died July 29, 1908) was an important Swiss activist who fought for women's rights and helped workers form unions. She believed in fairness for everyone, especially for women who worked hard every day.

Marie Adam-Doerrer: A Champion for Workers

Marie Adam-Doerrer was a strong voice for women in Switzerland during the late 1800s and early 1900s. She worked tirelessly to improve the lives of women, especially those who had tough jobs. She helped them organize and speak up for better working conditions and fair pay.

Her Early Life and Challenges

Marie Doerrer was born in Germany. She learned the skill of a goldsmith, which is someone who makes jewelry and other items from gold. Later, she moved to Bern, Switzerland. There, she worked as a washerwoman, which was a common but very hard job at the time. She married a shoemaker named Karl Adam.

A big event changed Marie's life and made her want to help others. She lost all her savings in a bank crash. This experience showed her how difficult life could be for ordinary people, especially when they faced financial problems. It made her realize the importance of working together to protect people's rights and money.

Fighting for Women Workers' Rights

After losing her savings, Marie Adam-Doerrer decided to join the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. This political party worked to improve the lives of working-class people and create a fairer society.

Marie quickly became a leader in the movement for workers' rights. In 1887, she helped start the Bernese Women Workers' Association (Arbeiterinnenverein). This group was like a club or a union for women who worked. They came together to support each other and demand better treatment from their employers.

Later, in 1902, she also helped create the Bernese Women Day Laborers' Association (Tagelöhnerinnenverein). Day laborers were people who worked by the day, often in very tough jobs with uncertain pay. Marie became the president of this important association, leading its efforts to help these women.

Working Together for Change

Marie Adam-Doerrer was not just involved in these two groups. She helped start and was a member of many other women's organizations across Switzerland. She believed that all women, no matter their background, should work together to achieve common goals.

At an international women's meeting in 1904, Marie spoke about how important it was for different groups of women to cooperate. She encouraged women from socialist groups (who focused on workers' rights and equality) and conservative groups (who often had more traditional views) to put aside their differences and work together for the good of all women. Her vision was to unite women's voices to make a bigger impact.