This article appeared earlier on www.businesstrendsasia.com
Every 21 April, Indonesia celebrates Kartini Day. Born in Central Java on 21 April 1879, Kartini is Indonesia's foremost woman pioneer. It was through her aspirations which she so poignantly wrote in her letters to friends in Holland, and who later published them in the book entitled "Door Duisternis tot Licht" ("Through Darkness into Light"), opened the gates for Indonesian women to break free from the restrainings shackles of tradition, and demand equal education for daughters as for sons.
Living in the latter of part of 19th Century, Kartini was the daugther of the regent of Rembang in Central Java. Although living a life of comparative luxury for the time, yet following tradition, she was, nonetheless, confined to her home and was only allowed to play with her sisters in the backyard. Seeing Kartini's strong desire to learn more, however, her father hired a private Dutch tutor to teach the sisters reading and writing, embroidery and western cooking. Through the tutor, Kartini received and read women's magazines and newspapers from Holland, which opened up her horizon. Reading about women's emancipation in far off Europe, Kartini dreamt of the day when Javanese girls would also be allowed top enjoy equal education and freedom to pursue their dreams as enjoyed by boys. Kartini yearned for independence, if not for herself, at least for other girls. "I dream of the Javanese girl, who holding her head high, will step lightly and confidently out into the world", writes Kartini, at the young age of 24.
Tragically, though, and still true to tradition and obeying her parent's wishes, Kartini was married off to a neighbouring regent as his fourth wife, albeit his chief wife. But even during this time, Kartini never lost sight of her dreams, founding a school for girls. She also promoted the establishment of more Kartini schools around the region. But, at the tender of 25 Kartini died, four days after giving birth to a son.
Today, in the first decade of the 21st Century, more than a hundred years after her death, much of Kartini's dreams have been realized. Indonesian women today enjoy much by way of freedom and equal opportunities in education. The Indonesian Consitution guarantees equal education and opportunities for all regardless of gender, race or religion. Indonesia had a first woman president, Megawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of the country's first president, Soekarno.
Today, President's Yudhoyono's cabinet includes four women Ministers holding important and strategic portfolios. These are the Minister for Finance, Sri Mulyani, the Minister for Trade, Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister for Health, Siti Supari, and Minister for Women Empowerment, Meutia Hatta. While, in Indonesia's Central Bank, the second in command in the position of Senior Deputy Governor is a woman, Miranda Gultom.
In local government, Indonesia today has a popularly elected woman Governor in the province of Banten, Ratu Atun. and the most recently appointed Mayor of Central Jakarta, as well as a number of popularly directly elected district heads.
In the private sector, outstanding industrialists include Martha Tilaar and Mrs. Mooryati Soedibyo, who have both built themselves empires in herbal cosmetics and traditional court beauty treatment. There are also oustanding women CEOs in banking, telecommunicatiosn, sports fashion, and other areas. Indonesia now also has a woman Police Officer with the rank of Brigadier General and even has a female trained astronaut, although she has not had actually had the opportunity to be launched into space !
Dress-wise Indonesian women are also free to choose their own dress code. Those wishing to wear the Muslim dress, wear headscarves to cover the hair. While other women wear western dress daily, office attire or tight-fitting jeans, or local or national costumes on official occasions.
Nonetheless, despite this progress, Indonesian women still face substantial challenges which include access to education (mostly held back by poverty), and protection from domestic violence. In regard to marriage law, Indonesian women may now also refuse to accept polygamy when her husband insists on taking a second wife. The wife is allowed to file for divorce. Such cases have been widely published especially involving TV idols or well-known public figures.
In society today, with the enforcement of regional autonomy in Indonesia, women activitists observe with concern the increasing number of bylawas that are issued by regional legislators citing "public morality" and "religious considerations", that in effect aim to seriously restict women's freedom from reaching her utmost possibilities. Prof. Saparinah Sadli, former Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, added that, while the state has issued 29 new policies at national, regional and local level to readicate violence against women, yet on the other hand, regions have issued 27 new bylaws that discriminate women, regulating women's dress, behaviour and mobility.
In this regard, Director for Executive Reform Insitute, Yudi Latif, explains that in Indonesia today, following the Reform movement, which since decade ago transformed Indonesia from a highly authoritarian regime to the present-day democracy, civil society now finds itself no longer facing the state but instead now faces fantaticsm that is anti-equality.
About the author: Wuryastuti Sunario is the Managing Director of Indonesia-based TBSC-Strategic Communication, which publishes news bulletin Indonesia Digest
