BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Kartini is reflected as a symbol of Indonesian woman’s sacrifice to fight for their dignity. One of her standout characters is her passion of reading and writing. In this stage, Kartini gave us an example to be a woman who is able to have her own knowledge and give the others meaning of life.
As for the Dean of Faculty of Art and Literature Universitas Pasundan, Dr. Hj. Senny Suzanna Alwasilah, Kartini Day celebrated every 21 April is not only about euphoria commemoration, as seen in wearing kebaya, but more than that. Kartini Day is supported to be understood as a spirit which raises new awareness of woman’s real work/ existence.
“We become what/ who we are right now, because of Kartini’s struggle in the past, bound both to the customs and tradition. She continued to strive to make Indonesian women honorable and reckoned in the eyes of the world,” the Dean said at Unpas Campus IV, Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi No. 193, Bandung on Wednesday (April 21st, 2021)
The dominated patriarchy makes women lose their self-existence in the public. Currently, the actual condition shows us the real fact of woman which is still not much different from the time of Kartini. Even in the era of globalization which is very open, many women are still trapped in their respective jobs.
The Dean thinks women are trapped in their routine activities and still attempted to work for her own domestic working-world, as having forgotten the existence of Kartini’s struggle in advancing women by reading and writing without separating the fields of work themselves. Meanwhile, she herself broke the patriarchal tradition by writing.
“At the present time, the outlook for progress for women is very open. Women who have been active in creating their independence by writing need to be appreciated. They dare to make a breakthrough in the midst of a culture that still favors the culture of speaking and listening rather than reading and writing,” she explained.
The Dean also conveyed that what is represented in the form of writing will help educate women. Without having the courage to share their ideas, women will continue to experience spiritual decline and be unable to think critically.
Kartini always stated that writing was a powerful weapon to uphold the rights of women in achieving independence. In the era of digital development, writing will be much easier to do by utilizing the existing platforms
“It also needs to be the main focus for millennial generation, that, from what I have seen, is way far from the Kartini’s values at first. As parents, especially mothers, they must be able to direct their children to return to their roots, namely the traditions and noble values of this nation,” she said.
At this moment of Kartini Day commemoration, the Dean gives advices to all women in Indonesia to always continue to work and enjoy the life. Women should also maintain their dignity, do good deeds and fear God.
“Let us keep moving, keep up the spirit in this extraordinary era which is covered by helplessness. We need to keep our dignity and do not be a spoiled-and-left-behind woman,” she ended.