Kang Keqing

Kang Keqing (K'ang K'e-ching; ; September 7, 1911 – April 22, 1992) was a Chinese revolutionary and politician. As a teenager, she joined the Chinese Red Army, fighting with the Chinese Communist Party during the Chinese Civil War and participating in the Long March. She later served as chair of the All-China Women's Federation and served on the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party during the 1980s. She was also the wife of general Zhu De until his death in 1976.

Early life Kang was born to a Hakka fishing family in the township of Luotangwan , Wan'an County, Jiangxi Province. In order to make ends meet, her parents sold five daughters in succession to other families as brides. Kang was given away when she was 40 days old to a tenant farmer called Luo Qigui . Her future husband had not yet been born at this point and, when the Luo family finally had their child, it was a girl. This child died and Kang was cared for by the Luo family as a daughter;

Revolution In 1924, the Wan'an County Chinese Communist Party member arrived in Kang's village as part of the Northern Expedition and set up various activities to promote revolution, including plays and a night school. In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek opposed the Communists and there was violent conflict. Nearly 200 people in Wan'an were killed and, to temper Kang's revolutionary tendencies, her adoptive parents attempted to arrange a marriage for her.

Kang married Zhu De on 30 December 1930. In the division of the Fourth Red Army, Kang was sent with Zhu De and Zhang Guotao.

In October 1935, Kang fell ill after Zhang Guotao's disastrous attempt to establish a communist base in Sichuan. Zhang reportedly kept Kang separated from her husband and attempted to leave her behind when the Fourth Red army moved to Shaanxi, but Zhu managed to bring a doctor and ensured Kang was carried on a stretcher through the Gold Mountains. Kang maintained contact with Foster Snow after this, even giving a speech at a 1991 conference congratulating her on being made Friendship Ambassador to China. She was a member of the 11th and 12th Central Committees of the Chinese Communist Party (1977-1987).

Women's Rights Kang's ideology in the fight for women's liberation is embodied in the slogan 'Seek liberation in war, seek equality in production' . 'Liberation in war' referred to women joining the revolutionary struggle to attain equality, while 'equality in production' meant that women should attain powers equal to those granted to men. This included the right to labour, which Kang considered fundamental to improving women's economic position. Kang argued 'equality' should also be expanded to politics, culture, science, and technology.

At the first meeting of the China Women's Committee in 1949, Kang made a speech advocating the liberation of women's labour and economic development.