Google Doodle celebrates the 148th birthday of educator and feminist Isabelle Gatti de Gamond; all you need to know

Google Doodle is celebrating the 148th birthday of Belgian educator and one of the first feminists, Isabelle Gatti de Gamond. Gatti is responsible for founding the first secondary school for women in Belgium and is credited with writing the book on the country's female education system.

Also Read: Google Doodle celebrates 122nd birthday of Dr. Mod Helmy, an Egyptian-German doctor

Early life of Isabelle Gatti de Gamond: 

Born in Paris on 28 July 1839, Gatti de Gamond's family moved to Brussels when she was just 5 years old. Soon after her mother's death in 1854, Gamond sought work to support her family and worked as a private tutor for a Polish noble family. Her time with the Polish family inspired her interest in ancient Greek, Latin and philosophy.

Gatti de Gamond completed her education through government-funded courses in Brussels, with a keen sense of how she could help more women attend school. The Belgian educator also shared her thoughts on women's education through a journal she founded called L'Education de la Femme (Women's Education).

Zeel for female education: 

In 1864, Gatti de Gamond joined forces with the Brussels City Council to set up systematic courses for the secondary education of women, called Cours d'Éducation pour jeunes filles. This initiative later became the first secular secondary school for girls. Later, in 1891, advanced and pre-university sections were added, and some of the women who studied at Gamond's school became the first in the country to attend university, work in parliament or become lawyers.

Also Read: Google Doodle celebrates the opening day of Women's Fifa World Cup with special multiplayer game

Gatti de Gamond's school was later renamed the Isabelle Gatti de Gamond Royal Atheneum and continues to educate female students today. She went on to found many more schools and eventually retired as an educator in 1899.

Because of her passion for women's rights, Gatti de Gamond also briefly entered politics, working for the Belgian Labour Party. She advocated for universal adult suffrage before becoming disillusioned when the party only supported men's voting rights.