Clara Zetkin (5 July 1857 – 20 June 1933) was a German woman advocate for women’s rights. In 1911, she organized the first International Women’s Day (IWD). It originally called International Working Women’s Day. IWD celebrated on March 8 every year. Zetkin has joined different parties such as Social Democratic Party of Germany, Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany and Communist Party of Germany.
Zetkin participated in women’s movement and the labor movement in Germany from 1874. The name Zetkin come form the name her lover Ossip Zetkin. She was active in fighting the
suffrage for women and also equal opportunities. She became the leader of Women’s Office in 1907. Later on, Zetkin established the first International Women’s Day on 19 March 1911.
After 1949, Zetkin was the most-celebrated heroine in the German Democratic Republic. Every major street in German had a Zetkin’s street.
Written by Lee Hoi Wai