Raden Ajeng Kartini is one of Indonesia's national heroes. She tirelessly fought to uplift the status and dignity of Indonesian women. It is thanks to her struggle that Indonesian women today can attend school and work like men. It is only fitting that we remember Raden Ajeng Kartini's contributions. Without her struggle, Indonesian women today would surely still be living in confinement.
Every April 21st, we commemorate Raden Ajeng Kartini's birthday. Kartini Day is usually celebrated with Kartini-style fashion competitions attended by schoolchildren and mothers. They dress and style themselves like Javanese women. They think that because Raden Ajeng Kartini was a Javanese woman, it is natural for them to dress in Javanese style. The question is: Must Indonesian women from Sabang to Merauke dress in Javanese style when commemorating Kartini Day?
Some time ago, I read an article from a mailing list titled: “It's Natural for Papuans to Want Independence.” The article outlined two reasons why Papuans desire independence: First, the issue of welfare. We all know that to this day, many Papuans live below the poverty line. Many among them suffer from hunger. Many Papuan children do not receive an education because their parents cannot afford to send them to school.
Let alone schooling, even for food, they struggle. Although Papua is rich in natural resources, the Papuan people cannot enjoy them. Tons of Papuan gold are extracted by foreigners, while Papuans are left empty-handed. Second, the disregard for Papuan culture and traditions. Papuans are forced to follow Javanese culture and traditions. This can be seen in the Indonesian language textbooks circulated in Papua.
These Indonesian language textbooks contain no sentences describing Papuans and their culture. For example, 'Budi goes to school.' 'Pardi herds buffalo in the rice fields.' Are there really Papuans named Budi and Pardi? Papuans never go to rice fields because they don't cultivate rice. Papuans typically eat sago and hunt wild boars in the forest. Papuan girls are considered not beautiful if they dress in Papuan style.
Their appearance often becomes an issue when they apply for jobs. And every Kartini Day, Papuan girls are forced to dress like Javanese women. So, it's not natural, is it? Beauty is relative. What is considered beautiful by Javanese women is not necessarily beautiful to Papuan women, and vice versa. When a girl dresses and wears her regional attire gracefully and naturally, she is considered beautiful in her region.
And that girl becomes a Kartini for her region. Kartini does not belong only to Javanese women. She also belongs to Sundanese, Batak, Minang, Makassar women, and others. Therefore, when commemorating Kartini Day, women who are not Javanese do not have to dress in Javanese style. Let us show our diversity by dressing in our respective regional styles.
In this way, Kartinis will emerge from all over Indonesia, continuing to fight for the advancement of Indonesian women.