Supporting Student Success

Kartini: Women Empowerment and Education 

Kartini, born on April 21, 1879, in Jepara, Central Java, was the third child among eight siblings. Born from a family of Javanese nobles, Kartini's privileged status afforded her the rare opportunity to receive an education. She initially attended the Europesche Lagere School (ELS), an exclusive European primary school that denied education to most natives. Later, when it was time for her to pursue further studies at the Hogere Burger School (HBS), a Dutch high school in Semarang, her father forbade her, confining her to isolation from the outside world at the age of 13. Despite this, Kartini persevered, maintaining correspondence with friends through letters and drowning herself in books that expanded her horizons and knowledge about the world. Through her reading and writing, Kartini began to formulate radical ideas about the social interactions of women within Javanese society at that time and the imperative need for women to access education. This belief eventually led Kartini to establish a school for girls alongside her sister.

Kartini's Ideas and vision were radical for Javanese society at that time. Her time spent drowning in books and literature helped to nurture her bravery, leading her to speak out against societal norms at that time. Education therefore emerged as the cornerstone of Kartini's advocacy, elevating her to an enduring symbol of women's empowerment in Indonesia.

Besides appreciating what Kartini fought for, we can gain insights from the path she forged in increasing the significant role that reading and writing play.

Reading and writing remain important skills and are skills that are required for success in life, beyond the school gates. Reading and writing skills can help us to become self-regulated learners in the future. 

Self-regulated learning plays a very important role in helping us to understand the constantly evolving and changing world. Self-regulated learning encourages all of us to continue learning in both our personal and professional lives.

Kartini should always be remembered not only as a figure of women empowerment but as proof that education is the path for everyone to gain empowerment.