Rosa Welt-Straus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rosa Welt-Straus
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Rosa Welt-Straus, 1893
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| Born | 24 August 1856 Austria
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| Died | 15 December 1938 (aged 82) Geneva, Switzerland
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| Nationality | Austrian American |
| Alma mater | University of Bern |
| Occupation | Ophthalmologist, Suffragist |
| Spouse(s) | Louis Straus |
Rosa Welt-Straus (1856–1938) was an amazing woman who fought for women's rights. She was a suffragist, meaning she worked to get women the right to vote. She was also a feminist, believing women should have equal rights and opportunities as men. Born in Austria, she broke many barriers for women in her time.
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Early Life and Groundbreaking Achievements
Rosa Welt-Straus was born in Austria in 1856. She was a true pioneer for girls and women. She was the very first girl in Austria to graduate from high school. This was a huge step at a time when education for girls was not common.
After high school, she continued to break new ground. She became the first Austrian woman to earn a medical degree. She got her medical degree in 1878 from the University of Bern in Switzerland. Even more, she became the first female eye doctor in all of Europe!
Rosa had three sisters: Ida, Leonora, and Sara. Later, Rosa and one of her sisters moved to America. In New York, she worked as an eye surgeon. She helped people at both an eye hospital and the Women's Hospital. She married a businessman named Louis Straus. They had a daughter together, named Nellie Straus-Mochenson.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Rosa Welt-Straus was very active in the movement for women's rights. In 1904, she attended the first meeting of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. This was a group that worked for women's right to vote around the world. Rosa was part of the American team at this important meeting.
She continued to attend these meetings for many years. Later, she represented another group called the Union of Hebrew Women for Equal Rights in Eretz Israel. This group worked for women's rights in the land that would become Israel.
Leading Women's Groups
In 1919, Rosa moved to the New Yishuv. This was the Jewish community living in the land of Israel before it became a state. That same year, the first nationwide women's party was created there. It was called the Union of Hebrew Women for Equal Rights in Eretz Israel. Rosa Welt-Straus was chosen to be its leader. She led this important group until she passed away.
In July 1920, Rosa traveled to London for another big meeting. This meeting created the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO). WIZO is a global organization that supports women and children. Later that year, she represented her group at another International Woman Suffrage Alliance meeting in Geneva.
Rosa was a key figure in the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. She represented them on international committees. She also attended all their major meetings. Often, she was part of groups that met with the leaders of countries where these meetings were held.
Achieving Equal Rights
In 1926, a group called the Haredim left the Assembly of Representatives. This was the elected body of the Jewish community in the yishuv. They left because they did not want to face the possibility of a public vote on women's rights.
That same year, a very important statement was made. It was officially approved by the government in 1927. This statement confirmed "equal rights to women in all aspects of life in the yishuv – civil, political, and economic." This meant women had the same rights as men in daily life, in politics, and in their jobs. Rosa Welt-Straus played a big part in making this happen.
Rosa Welt-Straus passed away in Geneva in 1938. She left behind a legacy of fighting for equality and opening doors for women everywhere.
See also
In Spanish: Rosa Welt-Straus para niños
