Alexandra Kollontai (1872-1952) was born into an aristocratic liberal family. She married at the age of twenty and had one son. In her early life, Early she became involved in radical circles, and the conflicts this created caused her to leave her beloved son and husband for a life of independent political action. Following on, Kollontai became a leading member of the Bolshevik Party during the Russian Revolution and the foremost Marxist theoretician of women's oppression and sexuality. She worked tirelessly all her life as a speaker, writer, and organiser for women's emancipation.