Learning From Kartini, By Aida Hayani, Lecturer in Islamic Education at Alma Ata University

S1 Islamic Education Alma Ata – R.A. Kartini is a history of emancipation raising the dignity of women who were mired in wells, kitchens and mattresses. There was anxiety in her heart because of backwardness, plagued by ideals, restrained by customs and blinded by the increasingly degenerate civilisation of her nation.

Emancipation is one of the terms labelled to describe several efforts to gain equal rights. Women’s emancipation is usually defined as a process of liberating women from restraints that limit the possibility of further development.

The Indonesian nation in the early 20th century experienced colonisation with conditions that were quite alarming in all aspects, especially in the political and social aspects of its society. This condition also affected women, where women only played a role as servants of their husbands, taking care of children, and managing the household.  In addition, they have not been allowed to obtain higher education like men and have not even been allowed to determine their mate/husband, and so on.

R.A. Kartini, who felt that she was not free to make choices and even felt that she had no choices at all because she was born a woman, and was always treated differently from her male siblings and friends, finally developed the desire and determination in her heart to change the paradigm.

R.A. Kartini’s struggle was not only written on paper but was proven by establishing free schools for girls in Jepara and Rembang.  R.A. Kartini can be said to be a woman who made great changes, especially for the awakening of Indonesian women. When compared to a series of other women’s struggles in this country, the truth about R.A. Kartini is not a matter of what and who should be inscribed in the frame of history.

The relevance to the meaning of Kartini Day in this era is how every Indonesian woman’s soul can understand the history of R.A. Kartini’s life which can be a role model for women. One of her characteristics is her consistency in making changes. Women with the concept of collaborating, working together and choosing to do many positive things can help others in overcoming this pandemic.

Many women in various communities campaign for the importance of life change. If R.A. Kartini who lived in a land with many strict traditions and customs, why can’t we in this sophisticated era?

Of course, as women today, everything can be utilised as well as possible, each individual can use social media to write, create works and educate the wider community. Hopefully, the meaning of Kartini’s day amid a pandemic situation can be realised wholeheartedly, so that the hopes of the figure driving women’s emancipation can be fully successful in this country. Happy Kartini Day commemoration.