The Warrior Princess: Kartini’s battle to achieve equality portrayed in “Kartini: Princess of Java”
Kartini: Princess of Java (2017) tells the emotional journey of Indonesia’s most significant female hero, R.A. Kartini. Together with her sisters, Kartini battled patriarchal norms and feudalism in the early 1900s.
As the daughter of a noble Javanese family, Kartini faced many challenges due to long-standing traditions such as Pingitan (Seclusion from the outside world until marriage). She was destined to be a Raden Ayu where her only role was to serve her husband and children. These traditions became an obstacle for Kartini who only ever dreamed of pursuing higher education in the Netherlands.
Growing up, Kartini also witnessed how her own mother, Ngasirah, was discriminated against in her own household because she didn’t come from a noble bloodline. It opened up her eyes to the inequality commoners (especially women) in Jepara faced due to patriarchy and feudalism. Women were denied access to modern education, and the commoners were mocked and ridiculed.
Although she was secluded in Pingitan, Kartini didn’t stop educating herself with the books that her older brother left for her. Through those books, she was inspired to improve the lives of the people around her. Kartini and her sisters then established a school where they taught Dutch script to women and commoners. In addition, they created job opportunities for Jepara’s wood sculptors by exporting their sculptures to the Netherlands.
“Tubuh boleh terpasung, tapi jiwa dan pikiran harus terbang bebas-sebebasnya.” -Kartini
SOURCES
