Q ~ Qiu Jin

Often referred to as “China’s Joan of Arc,” Qiu Jin rose to become an early and fierce advocate for the liberation of Chinese women, defying prevailing Confucian gender and class norms by unbinding her feet, cross-dressing and leaving her young family to pursue an education abroad.

She became vocal in her support for women’s rights, pressed for improved access to education for women in her journals and speech, and spoke out against the practice of foot-binding. Returning to China in 1905, she joined the Triads, an underground society who advocated for the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. She was beheaded at 31 and became one of China’s revolutionary martyrs.

Source: nytimes.com & amazingwomeninhistory.com