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)