Lin Zongsu

chinese 1878-1944

Inspired by the women’s rights movements in Europe and America,

Lin founded the first female suffrage organisation in China, the Women’s Suffrage Comrades Alliance, in 1911. Despite her efforts and numerous petitions, women were still denied the vote in the provisional constitution of 1912. The National Assembly felt threatened by their demands and Lin eventually ceased her activities under the suppression of Yuan Shikai in 1913. Women were finally granted the vote in China in 1949.

Lin was one of the first female journalists in China