Clara Zetkin's birth

circa 1930

Clara Zetkin (1857–1933) was a prominent German Marxist theorist, activist, and advocate for women's rights. She is best known for her work in the labor movement, particularly for her role in advancing women's involvement in politics and social change.

Born in Germany, Zetkin was deeply involved in the socialist movement, joining the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) early in her career. She was a fierce advocate for the rights of working women, and she understood the intersectionality of class struggle and gender inequality. Zetkin believed that the liberation of women was tied to the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of socialism.

One of her major contributions to the feminist movement was her idea of International Women's Day. In 1910, she proposed the idea at the second International Socialist Women's Congress, and the first International Women's Day was celebrated in 1911. The day became a call for women to demand better working conditions, the right to vote, and equality in society.

Zetkin also worked closely with other influential figures of the time, including Rosa Luxemburg, with whom she shared similar political ideals. Later in her life, she moved to the Soviet Union after the rise of fascism in Germany, where she continued her political activism.