International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8th. On this day we commemorate milestones in the women’s rights movement and bring attention to various current women’s rights issues.
Throughout history, women’s contributions to social justice, scientific development, and other causes have often been underappreciated, and the achievements of women of color even more so. Among those who paved the way for today’s innovations, freedoms, and civil rights were also East and Southeast Asian women. On this women’s day, let us celebrate some of these women who made history!
Yuri Kochiyama was a Japanese American civil rights activist known for her work in the Black civil rights movement, and for pioneering the Asian American movement in the US. After moving to Harlem in 1960, a New York neighborhood predominantly settled by African Americans and Puerto Rican immigrants, Kochiyama became deeply involved in racial equality and anti-imperialism, advocating against racial segregation and fighting for political prisoners and Puerto Rico’s independence. Through her activism, Kochiyama befriended Malcom X, who further invigorated her activism. Today, Kochiyama is remembered for her solidarity across various civil rights movements, including the Black Panthers, the pan-Asian activist movement as part of the AAA (Asian Americans for Action), and fighting against Islamophobia in the US.
Maria Ulfah Santoso was an Indonesian politician and women’s rights activist. She was involved in the Indonesian nationalist movement, and during her career as a politician, advocated for marriage reform to further the protection of women’s rights. Santoso was known for being the first Indonesian woman to receive a law degree, and the first female cabinet member of Indonesia, paving the way for other women to take up government posts. Today, Santoso is remembered as an example of women’s important role in the Indonesian nationalist movement, and her activism in promoting women’s rights and literacy.
Melchora Aquino was a Filipina revolutionary, who acquired the title “Tandang Sora” (meaning “old Sora”) during the Philippine revolution. During the revolution against Spanish colonial rule, she ran a store in her native town of Barrio Banlat that became a haven for treating sick and wounded revolutionaries. Aquino also opened her house as a secret meeting place for Filipino revolutionaries (also known as Katipuneros). Today, Tandang Sora is remembered for her motherly role during the revolution, earning her the title of “Woman of Revolution,” “Mother of Balintawak,” and “Mother of the Philippine Revolution.”
Chien-Shiung Wu, also known as ‘the First Lady of Physics’, was a Chinese-born American physicist who made pioneering contributions to the field of particle physics. She developed the first experimental proof that parity is not conserved, which paved the way for her colleagues Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang to win the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957. During the onset of WWII, Wu joined the Manhattan Project, a research and development program aimed at producing the first nuclear weapons. Today, Wu is remembered as the ‘Queen of Nuclear Research’.
Raden Adjeng Kartini is one of Indonesia’s national heroes, known for her women’s rights activism and her role in Indonesia’s fight for independence. Most of all, Kartini opposed traditional gender segregation, seeking to improve women and girls’ access to education by opening her own school for girls, Kartini Schools. Believing that women played a central role in Indonesian society, Kartini developed an education system that put girls on an equal playing field with boys, with additional curricula on hygiene, first aid, and money management. Today, Kartini is remembered for her role in uplifting women and girls by improving access to education.
Patsy Mink was an American politician and women’s rights activist, serving in the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party for 24 years. Mink was the first person of color and Asian-American to be elected to Congress, and the first Asian-American to run for US president. During her political career, Mink was one of the authors of Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and educational institutions. Mink also made significant contributions to racial and gender equality, and advocated strongly for affordable childcare. Today, Mink is remembered through her political legacy that paved the way for racial representation and women’s rights in the US.
Mabel Ping-Hua Lee was a Chinese-American women’s suffrage activist, and the first Chinese woman to earn a PhD in economics in the United States. She participated in the 1912 women’s suffrage parade in New York City, helping to lead almost 10,000 people in the parade; the movement culminated in the passage of the 19th amendment which recognised women’s right to vote. Despite the amendment in 1920, Lee was not able to vote until 1943 due to the Chinese Exclusion Act. Today, Lee is remembered as a symbol of women’s rights in the US.
Lin Qiaozhi was a Chinese obstetrician and gynecologist who revolutionised Chinese gynecology and oncology. She made significant contributions to research in fetal breathing, female pelvic diseases, and gynecological oncology (reproductive cancers) and neonatal hemolytic disorders (blood diseases). Throughout her career, Lin Qiaozhi delivered over 50,000 babies, and is known today as the ‘Mother of Ten Thousand Babies’.
Cut Nyak Meutia was an Indonesian national hero who fought against Dutch colonial rule in the Dutch East Indies. Throughout her lifetime, she fought alongside her husbands in battles against the Dutch until her death in 1910. Despite being found and murdered by Dutch soldiers, Meutia fought with a rencong (Acenese dagger) until her last breath. Today, Meutia is remembered for her role and bravery fighting for Indonesian independence. She was proclaimed a national hero in 1964.
Salud Algabre was a Filipina revolutionary known for her efforts in fighting for Filipino independence from American occupation. During her activism, Algabre led the Sakdal movement which fought against American imperial rule in the Philippines, and lobbied for the equal redistribution of land to Filipino peasants. Algabre led multiple uprisings against the Americans, and is remembered today as a fighter for Filipino independence.
Author Bio:
This article is written by Natalie Tai. Natalie is a student at Amsterdam University College, currently studying social sciences with a focus on sociology and gender/sexuality studies. She has Singaporean and Taiwanese roots, but currently resides in Amsterdam for university. She spends her time outside of school volunteering for Asian Raisins and LGBTQ+ organizations.
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