The Greek League for Women's Rights ( gr, Σύνδεσμος για τα Δικαιώματα της Γυναίκας) is a Greek feminist organization which was founded in 1920 in

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

to promote women's political rights including

suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in representative democracy, public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally i ...

. Affiliated to the International Alliance of Women, the organization continues to be active today.

Background

A number of initiatives in support of women had been taken since Greece had obtained independence in 1828, especially in the sphere of education. In 1872,

Kalliopi Kehajia Kalliopi A. Kehagia (Καλλιόπη Κεχαγιά) (c. 18391905), was a Greek feminist and educator. Head of the Hill School for girls in Athens and the Zappeion School for Girls in Istanbul, she also founded the Society for Promoting Women's E ...

(1839-1905) founded the Society for Promoting Women's Education.

Kalliroi Parren Kallirhoe Parren ( el, Καλλιρρόη Παρρέν; 1861 – January 15, 1940) launched the feminist movement in Greece and was a journalist and writer in the late 19th and early 20th century. Early life Born in Rethymno, Crete, to a middle-cl ...

(1861-1940) founded the

Union for the Emancipation of Women Union for the Emancipation of Women, was a Greek women's organization, founded in 1894. The Union for the Emancipation of Women was founded by Kalliroi Parren Kallirhoe Parren ( el, Καλλιρρόη Παρρέν; 1861 – January 15, 1940) laun ...

in 1894 and the

Union of Greek Women Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** Union ...

in 1896, although both avoided calls for the controversial cause of women's suffrage. The

National Council of Greek Women National Council of Greek Women ( el, Εθνικό Σουμβούλιο Ελληνίδων, Ethniko Symvoulio Ellinidon) is a Greek women's organization, founded in 1908. The ESE was founded by Kalliroi Parren. Parren had founded the Union for th ...

, an umbrella organization for some fifty charity associations for women and children, was founded in 1911. Progress on the educational front was achieved with the admission of women to the University of Athens and in 1911, the establishment of the Lyceum of Greek Women (Lykeion ton Ellinidon), an association striving to revive Greece's glorious past. It was only in 1920 that

Avra Theodoropoulou Avra Theodoropoulou ( el, Αύρα Θεοδωροπούλου; 3 November 1880 – 20 January 1963) was a Greek music teacher, pianist, suffragist and women's rights activist. She founded the League for Women's Rights in 1920 and served as its ch ...

founded the Greek League for Women's Rights, specifically demanding progress on political rights and suffrage.

History

The League was particularly active in the 1920s, 1930s and 1950s, succeeding in having discriminating laws repealed and achieving progress in family law. The feminist journal ''Women's Struggle'' has been published by the organization since 1923, the year when it became affiliated with the International Alliance of Women. In 1982, it established the Centre for Documentation and Study of Women's Problems.

References

{{reflist

External links

The League's website
(in Greek) Feminist organizations in Greece Organizations established in 1920 Voter rights and suffrage organizations Women's suffrage in Greece