Kartini remains unknown among history textbooks

Kartini remains unknown among history textbooks

JAKARTA (JP): The controversy about whether Kartini is a real
emancipation heroine has long been a debatable subject among some
feminists here.

To follow the argument on this matter would not be very
fruitful though. Kartini Day is nonetheless celebrated on April
21 every year.

The fact is that the history about Kartini is not recounted
properly in formal education and many institutions fail to
encourage their students to search more deeply beyond school
textbooks.

A school teacher at Al-Azhar elementary school in Jakarta,
Muhidin, said, "We only teach them what has been printed in the
textbooks. Who she was, why she deserved to be called a heroine
and her struggle."

Kartini or Raden Ajeng Kartini was born on April 21, 1879 in
Jepara, Central Java, and died at the age of 25, four days after
giving birth to a boy. While the cause of her death remains a
mystery, it was known that a year before her death, her parents
married her to the 50 year old Rembang regent, who already had
three wives.

The fact that Kartini was a victim of polygamy, however, is
never mentioned in school textbooks.

The books underline that she wrote a lot of letters to her
friends in the Netherlands, especially concerning the fate of
women who had yet to be equal with men in education -- later
published as a book, entitled Door Duisternis tot Licht or Habis
Gelap Terbitlah Terang (Here Comes the Light after Darkness). Her
best achievement is that she opened a school for girls inside the
regency.

According to Muhidin, teaching about the real life of Kartini
was not appropriate as children are not mature enough to
understand the reality of her situation.

"It would simply confuse them," he said.

Another teacher, Ella, argued that an in-depth understanding
of Kartini's struggle and biography would not be of much use to
children as "school exams would not cover these subjects."

Activist Nursyahbani Katjasungkana said that in history
textbooks, Kartini was clearly depicted as merely a submissive
daughter or a housewife -- a concept created by a patriarchal
society.

Kartini happened to be able to write -- a rare skill for women
in her time -- therefore she could air her aspirations,
Nursyahbani said.

The fact is that Kartini had set out thoughts and
understandings that no one, not even men, did at that time.

Nursyahbani, a legislator, believed that, if possible,
students should be engaged in a more interactive way in the
subject of history.

"Let's say we do not need to give a detailed profile on
Kartini due to the lack of maturity of the pupils, but teachers
should make them understand or learn about her through discussion
of her achievements," she said.

Nursyahbani believed that erroneous reporting of her
(Kartini's) story in formal education has also contributed to the
prolonged "gender bias" in society.

She was of the opinion that the majority of men in the country
share the idealized concept of a woman as a housewife and mother,
similar to the mistaken portrayal of Kartini herself.

Not many have studied in depth the reality of Kartini's life,
Nursyahbani said.

"Kartini knew and expounded the concept that women can make
choices in any aspect of their lives, careers and personal
matters," Nursyahbani stressed.

For the past few years some feminists have questioned why the
government awarded the status of emancipation heroine to Kartini
instead of women like Tjut Nya' Dhien, the heroine from Aceh who
went into battle against Dutch colonial soldiers.

What have students to say about the heroine?

Feby and Novi, both sixth graders at Al Azhar only chuckled
when they were asked about Kartini.

"Yes, I know her. Mmmm... she's a heroine," Feby said, looking
puzzled.

Next question, what do you know about her struggle?

Novi only giggled, but when she was asked whether she admired
Kartini or not, she said she did. But it was obvious that she did
not have a clue why Kartini should be admired. (hdn/emf)