Unite to Claim Rights: An Analysis of Women’s Associations in the Period of May Fourth

During the May Fourth Movement, with the re-emergence of the women’s liberation movement, a large number of women with advanced knowledge set up women’s associations one after another to compete for " civil rights”. Although these women’s associations vary in size, they mainly aim at participating in politics and fighting for civil rights, and exert social influence through activities inside and outside the community. The changes of women’s organizations are related to the domestic and foreign trends of thought, political rights and new culture movement. During the May Fourth period, the women’s associations played an important role in safeguarding women’s rights, striving for " civil rights” and promoting ideological liberation.