Indonesian Heroine: R.A. Kartini
Celebrating an Indonesian woman figure and the importance of learning second languages
If you are familiar with terms from the regency era, then you might be familiar with Bluestocking. Bluestocking is a word to describe an intellectual or literary woman. The word comes from a society in England called the Blue Stocking Society in the 18th century and was led by the hostess and critic Elizabeth Montagu.
Speaking of which, how about a bluestocking figure in Indonesia?
Well, Indonesia has Raden Adjeng Kartini as a notable woman in woman’s rights, education, and equality movement. Kartini was born in 1879 into a Javanese aristocratic family in Indonesia (former Dutch East Indies). She wanted to undergo further education after she attended Europese Lagere School (ELS), a Dutch-language primary school.
However, at that time, Javanese women were prohibited to pursue higher education. Thus, after she finished her education after she turned 12 years old, she continued to taught herself. Unlike other parents in her era, her father was more tolerant and permitted his daughter to attend embroidery lessons and appearances in public for special occasions.
Her eloquence in Dutch allowed her to have several Dutch pen pals. She also read some European books, newspapers, and magazines which triggered her interest in feminist thinking and Europe. In addition, she became determined to improve the social status of Indonesian women who were at a very low social status. Women back then were struggling to earn their freedom, autonomy, and legal equality.
“No cloud in the sky remains forever. There was no chance of everlasting light of weather. After the dark night was born, morning brought beauty. Human life is like nature.” — R.A. Kartini
Kartini’s parents decided to arrange her marriage to the Regency Chief of Rembang, Joyodiningrat who had already have three wives. As someone who was against polygamy, she detested the marriage proposal at first. Nevertheless, as the wedding approaches, Kartini’s point of view towards Javanese traditional customs has changed. She felt that her marriage would bring good fortune for her intention to develop a school for native women. Besides, her husband understands her passion for empowering and educating women. Therefore, she decided to establish a woman’s school on the eastern porch of Rembang’s Regency Office complex.
She passed away four days after she delivered her first child, yet her battle for Indonesian women’s right to get better education continues. Van Deventer family, inspired by Kartini’s determination, decided to build a women’s school under R.A. Kartini Foundation that they established in 1912.
From her story, this author was astonished by how massive Kartini’s impact on the opportunity that Indonesian women have today. Her capability in mastering a second language allowed her to share her thoughts about Indonesian women and her dream to overcome a plethora of limitations that Indonesian women faced with some of her pen pals. After she passed away, her ideas from the collection of letters that she wrote began to change the way the Dutch viewed native women in Java.
Kartini is the epitome of a woman that has the eagerness to promote development, confidence, and equality for women. She uses her privileges as someone who was born from a noble family to give access to better education, not only for herself but also for all the women in Indonesia. — Esti Dhamayanti, Member of Information and Communication Department, ILC-HMP UGM.
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