Indonesian Feminism in the Spirit of Kartini’s Struggle
Megawati Soekarnoputri, Arroyo, Margaret Thatcher, Golda, Jenny Shipley, Indira Gandhi, Tansu Ciller, Corazon Aquino, and many other names you know, are powerful women in the world. They have achieved success in their field. They are national leader, who lead thousands people including men. The women mentions above are independent of women domestic scope. The feminism ideology has been applied, not only in the big countries but also in Indonesia, the developing country. In Indonesia itself we have ‘emancipation’, the same point of view with feminism.
Feminism in Indonesia was begun from Kartini about a hundred years ago. Kartini broke the ‘great wall’ that fettered women powerlessly. She led a remarkable enlightenment for, especially Indonesian women. The spirit, which has opened women mind as mention in feminism ideology; ‘all men and women are created equality’. Women should reach high education and have the same position with men in every field like politic, education, economic, social and literary.
In Indonesia literature, women make a wide progress in this century. Now, when we go to the bookshop we find a lot of book written by women and told about woman. It is different from several years ago. In the generation of Pujangga Baru until generation of ’66, we found a few women writer. Nh. Dini, Boen S. Oemarjati, Marianne Katoppo, Titie Said, Titis Basinoa are names that slipped among a famous men writer such as Chairil Anwar, Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, Sanusi Pane and so on.
Gender reflection in the literary works, in the initially, written by men. The first novel, which told about gender was Azab dan Sengsara (1920) written by Merari Siregar. Then followed by several titles ¾ Sitti Nurbaya (1922) by Marah Rusli, Asmara Jaya (1928) by Adi Negoro, Di Bawah Lindungan Ka’bah (1938) by Hamka; all was written by men.
Then, gender reflection and woman emancipation expanded since generation of Pujangga Baru’s novels up to present time. Emancipation demand the equal social position between men and women, release the women from lower position. The problem expressed in the works Layar Terkembang (1936) by Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, Belenggu (1940) by Armijn Pane, Sri Sumirah dan Bawuk (1975) by Umar Kayam, Pada sebuah kapal (1973), La Barka (1976), and Keberangkatan (1977) by Nh. Dini, Ibu Sinder (1983) by Pandir Kelana, Jentera Bianglala (1986) and Bekisar Merah (1993) by Ahmad Tohari, and so on.
Layar Terkembang told about Maria and Tuti, a couple of sibling. They have difference opinion and way of thinking. Tuti is a moderate girl. She is a women movement activist, PUTRI SEDAR. She spent her life for follow women meeting and congress to struggle women right and justice.
Maria, Tuti’s sister, is an old fashion woman or contra-feminism as written in the Feminisme dan Sastra (Adib Sofia, 2003:223). She devotes all of her life to serve man. In this story told that she willing to surrender her fate to Yusuf. She even do not afraid become Yusuf’s slave. It makes conflict between Tuti and Maria.
In the Layar Terkembang, feminism reflects in Tuti’s way of life. Tuti’s opinion that points to the women independence from domestic affairs has driven her into mentally crisis. She believes that marriage should not sacrifice women right. The story ended when Maria died because of TBC and Tuti can accept Yusuf becomes her husband. Her decision to married with Yusuf is because he can accept her feminism ideology. Slowly, she finds her true love.
Feminism at younger is reflected in Ahmad Tohari’s work, Bekisar Merah. Bekisar Merah tells about a mannish girl who getting adult and looking for her real life. She and her close friend try to join with soccer club, but all of clubs do not approve girls. Then she cut her hair, her clothes and her act like a boy. She changes her name from Alisah to Ali. She joins with Bekisar Merah soccer club. She becomes a captain of the team for the great junior soccer competition. She exercises everyday after school. Both parents and her schoolmate do not know about her new identity until her classmate find Bekisar Merah’s registration form. The boy who find the registration form, is a son of her teacher. The conflict began when he ask Alisah to bring a bread everyday and do his homework. Finally, her new identity appears at the competition time and her family can accept her decision to join with soccer club.
Bekisar Merah, is a simple story that describe about Alisah’s struggle to make her own life ¾ her own desire. Both Layar Terkembang and Bekisar Merah is feminism reflection in Indonesia. It is only one example among a lot of literary works in this country, the struggle of women who looking for equality with men. As in real life, the struggle always faces a lot of temptation, especially custom. Kartini’s never recommended women to take over men’s roles and positions. R.A Kartini want Indonesian women can stand on her own legs and open their mind to receive knowledge so that they can stand as high as men.
On the Occasion of Kartini’s Day, April 21, 2004
Reference:
Djajanegara, Soenarjati. Kritik Sastra Feminis: Sebuah Pengantar. Jakarta: PT. Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Pebruary 2000.
Eneste, Pamusuk. Leksikon Kesusastraan Indonesia Modern. Jakarta: Gramedia, July 1983.
Hardi, Lasmidjah. Sumbangsihku bagi Pertiwi. Jakarta: Pustaka Jaya, 1982.
Jassin, H.B. Angkatan ’66: Prosa dan Puisi. Jakarta: January, 1968.
Sugihastuti, Adib Sofia. Feminisme dan Sastra, Menguak Citra Perempuan dalam Layar Terkembang. Bandung: Katarsis, 2003.
Tohari, Ahmad. Bekisar Merah. 1993.
Winarsono, Y.B. Emancipation. CONTACT, NSC’s monthly bulletin, 1997.
--------- Why are Women in Power Harder than Men?
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar