Raden Ayu Kartini (1875-1904) was a usual Indonesian woman at her times. As a blue-blood, she had some European friends; some of them were feminist. They taught Kartini that it is not right for women to only sit at home and raise children. Women are the same as men, they said. Kartini, who was young and very willing to learn everything, thought about this a lot. She would become a feminist and considered rebel if it was not for a religious teacher who taught her about her religion. He also taught her about women's right and duty in the religion. Education is obligatory for women as well as men and women's main duty is to stay at home; it is not women's duty to take all the hard work out there.
Kartini then thought that women should go to school too. If Indonesian women are smart, then Indonesian children will be smart too. In turn, Indonesia will move forward. Wasn't it so simple? Not at that time. Fortunately, her husband supported her idea to make a school for women at home. The women were taught writing, counting and housekeeping. That was the first school for women in Indonesia. That's why Kartini's birthday (April 21) is celebrated every year.
Kartini's dream wasn't for women to be equal with men in every field, but to make one and every women smart so that their children are smart too. Unfortunately, her noble dream is being corrupted by women who think that freedom is given in every field without concerning their duty.
I want to be a woman in Kartini's dream; to learn things and teach my (future) children those things I've learned so Indonesia will move forward.
 aikomeow · Tue Apr 19, 2011 @ 04:07pm · 0 Comments |
