By: Rieke Rahayu
If in this day and age it is still difficult for women empowerment and emancipation of women, imagine how difficult it is before there is social media and various facilities that exist today?
Raden Ajeng Kartini. She’s an awesome priyayi that if we track her descendant, we will found that she may be related to Majapahit Kingdom, how awesome is that? She’s basically the oldest sister of all her sisters, yet when her older brother Ario Tjondronegoro became a regent and gave his children education, she thought “Hey, maybe this will help me in the future!” and BAM! She studied on Europese Lagere School, even though it’s only until she’s 12 years old because according to tradition, she’s ready to undergo pingitan.
BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP HER AT ALL! Kartini decided to continue her study slowly at home, and because of her ability to speak Dutch, she went all “I can start some correspondencies with friends in Netherlands!” And it actually worked! She has a loyal friend named Rosa Abendanon, that really really supports all of Kartini’s idea on empowering indigenous women and concerning indigenous women that on the current time had low social status.