Kartini 'power' still matters

Kartini 'power' still matters

Those living long enough in Indonesia may know that the month
of April has a special significance for women here. This is
related to April 21, the birthday of Kartini, a lady who
spearheaded women's advancement, especially in the field of
education. It is no exaggeration to say that this date marked the
beginning of Kartini "power", or the clamor for women's
emancipation or liberation, if you like.

Kartini magazine in commemorating Kartini Day recently devoted
almost all its pages to successes women never dreamed of back in
Kartini's day. Such successes range from the first female
president, Megawati Soekarnoputri, to women pilots and
entrepreneurs like Marta Tilaar and Ibu Sudibyo and
many others, as well as women doctors, judges and sports
champions. But beauty is not neglected by today's Indonesian
women as can be seen from the magazine.

In spite of the rapid strides made by women in this country,
Kartini might well drop one or two tears if she could examine the
plight of Indonesian women workers today in foreign countries,
workers who deserve better treatment and less humiliation. Girls
today are free to attend schools wherever they like and if their
parents can afford it, although the national standard of general
education still leaves a lot to be desired. The fate of female
workers at home gives more grounds for distress than for
jubilation, such as the end that befell Marsinah, who revolted
against the working conditions in her factory and was found
murdered, as the film of that name shows.

Yet, the Kartini "power" unleashed from the Central Java town
of Japara so long ago has been reverberating ever since and will
continue to do so as long as there are women in Indonesia.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta