"This country has many independent women, but few financially secure man"
"Being an independent women means you don't need any help from men"
Nowadays, social media shows how much people promote feminism and how it becomes a trending topic. They suggest that women can stand on their own, achieve their goals, and reach their highest peaks. However, these points can lead to a misunderstanding by valuing women more than men. Therefore, there have been many quotes that can be misleading from the actual definition of feminism. So, let's take us back to the origins of feminism.
Since the 20th century, when the colonization of Netherlands still takes place in Indonesia,
The movement of feminism starts with a young and strong woman named R.A. Kartini.
When her brother was allowed to study at a university, it made her realize how women should be treated equally. Since elementary school, she has craved knowledge and actively discussed it with her teacher and her friends. Unfortunately, after she finished elementary school, she needed to obey the rules of a royal family and stayed at home. Those times at home pushed her to read and didn't stop her from studying. So, when her younger sisters had to learn to obey the traditions, she thought of the idea of having her own rules by telling them to be themselves and not limit their potential. Since then, their father let them have their freedom by exploring the village around. Not only did she care for what's right for her, but she also thought about how all women should have that right. Therefore, she expressed her ideas by writing about the issues. Through her statements, she highlighted arranged marriage, polygamy, and difficulties for women to have an access towards education.
This is the beginning of women's emancipation and how Kartini's sacrifices give opportunities for women to have education and equal rights.
Feminism is an advocacy for women's rights so that they can be treated equally in social, political, and economic rights. Oppressed by the patriarchy, feminism seeks social justice for women to have a better society. A better society means getting the same opportunities as a man would have, being someone who is in a lead without being questioned how they got it, and being "in control" without the control and judgement of others just because they are a woman. The basic feminist ideas are:
1. Working to increase equality
2. Expanding human choice
3. Eliminating gender stratification
4. Ending sexual violence & promoting sexual freedom
