Raden Ajeng Kartini

Raden Ajeng Kartini

Kartini was born on April 21st 1879 in Mayong village Jepara, Central Java. Her father was RM Adipati Ario Sosrodiningrat. He was a chief assistant from Mayong district, Jepara Regency. Adipati Ario had many mistresses, such as Kartini's mother. As a mistress's child and from a little girl Kartini felt discrimination and different treatment from her cultural environment.

Her letter to Mrs HG Debooij Boissevain mentioned discrimination which she got when she was a baby. Her mother had to compete with her father's first wife, which was still a descendant of queen Madura. Since a baby she had always lived between an excellent building and a little home. As a child from a Mistress, Kartini was born in a little home in the back part of the chief assistant's house.

she also got discrimination at school. Through her letter to Estelle Zeehandellar, Kartini told about her teacher who underestimated women's abilities. "The Dutchmen laughed and mocked our supposed stupidity but we tried to go forward and then we had the attitude to defy them, wow! So many sorrows in our childhood at school. Teachers and many of our friends, show their attitude against us," is what Kartini related to her friend.

Feeling suppressed by that treatment, Kartini was determined to go forward through education but her wishes collided with family culture which was still very tight. Kartini had to let go of her dream to continue her study at HBS, a prestigious school. Also an offer from her teacher to study in Netherlands was rejected because she was forbidden by her father.

But Kartini's dream to fight for the native people, especially the women, to get educational access never faded away. Failing to continue her school, Kartini was active in her fight by teaching native children.

Her love for her father made Kartini unable to refuse when she had to marry Rembang Regent and became a mistress, like her mother. Kartini was sad but she could not fight against her father and also the environment. Finally, after a long painful struggle, Kartini died during the birth of her first son.