Saparinah Sadli

Last updated

Saparinah Sadli
Saparinah Sadli Alzheimer Indonesia.jpg
Sadli speaks to Alzheimer Indonesia in 2020
Born (1927-08-24) 24 August 1927 (age 97)
Central Java, Dutch East Indies
Nationality Indonesian
Alma mater Gadjah Mada University
University of Indonesia
Known forWomen's rights, activism
Spouse Mohammad Sadli
Scientific career
Fields Psychology, gender studies

Saparinah Sadli (born 24 August 1927) is an Indonesian psychologist and activist. She was a lecturer at the University of Indonesia and spearheaded the establishment of its Department of Women's Studies. A member of the National Commission on Human Rights from 1996 through 2000, she became the inaugural chairperson of the National Commission on Violence against Women in 1998. She has been awarded the Nabil Award, the Roosseno Award, the Cendekiawan Berdedikasi Award from Kompas, and a lifetime achievement award from Femina magazine.

Contents

Early life and studies

Sadli was born in Central Java, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) on 24 August 1927. [1] The daughter of a Javanese aristocrat, [2] Sadli attended a Dutch-run school for Dutch and Dutch-speaking children. She then enrolled at the Deventer School – a school inspired by the writings of Kartini – though her studies were abbreviated by the Japanese invasion of 1942. [3]

With her parents' support, Sadli attended the Faculty of Pharmacy, Gadjah Mada University, with the goal of becoming an assistant pharmacist. [2] She graduated in 1953. [1] Around this time she married Mohammad Sadli, and she joined him in the United States as he completed his studies in economics; [3] he would later become an economist and policymaker, and the pair would remain married until his death on 9 January 2008. [1] Returning to Indonesia, she decided to learn psychology. [2] She received a degree from the Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia, in 1961; she received her doctorate from the same alma mater in 1976. [1] She later took special interest in the psychology of women. [3]

Sadli taught at the University of Indonesia, serving as the dean of the Faculty of Psychology between 1976 and 1981. [4] She also worked with the National Population and Family Planning Board during the 1970s to promote women's reproductive rights. [2] In 1985, Sadli was made a full professor at the University of Indonesia. [4] She spoke in defence of the feminist writer Julia Suryakusuma, who had studied under Sadli in the 1970s, when the latter was detained by the State Intelligence Agency in 1988 for her gendered exploration of the New Order regime. [2]

Gender studies and activism

In the late 1980s, Sadli was approached by Sujudi, the rector of the University of Indonesia, to establish a women's studies program. She was initially hesitant, as the field was widely dismissed, [2] and even through the 1990s Indonesians viewed the concepts of "feminism" and "gender" negatively. [3] However, she complied, and the Department of Women's Studies at the University of Indonesia opened in 1990. [5] Saparinah served as the department's leader until 2000, [4] navigating between those who viewed feminism negatively and the demands of activists who proudly accepted the feminist label. [6]

Sadli was one of the academics who monitored Indonesia's implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. [2] As a member of the Convention Watch Working Group, established in 1994, she participated in a survey of respondents who were assumed to have been exposed to the convention; they found that, although most understood the concepts of discrimination, they attributed it to biological differences and had minimal knowledge of the convention itself. They promoted gender awareness, beginning with groups oriented toward women, but found it difficult to incorporate gender perspectives in development programs. [7] Between 1996 and 2000, Sadli was a member of the National Commission on Human Rights. [1]

On 15 July 1998, responding to several days of rioting the previous May, Sadli – together with activists and academics including Mely G. Tan, Mayling Oey-Gardiner, and Sinta Nuriyah – spoke with President B. J. Habibie regarding the need to prevent violence against women; the National Commission on Violence against Women was established later that year. [5] [8] Sadli became the commission's first chairwoman, serving from 1998 to 2004. [5] During this period, the commission investigated acts of violence against women not only during the May 1998 riots, but also during military operations in East Timor, Papua, and Aceh. [1]

As of 2017, Sadli was speaking out against the practice of child marriage in Indonesia. She also expressed support for the women farmers of Kendeng, Central Java, who were protesting the construction of a cement factory. [5] By 2023, she was promoting the rights and welfare of the elderly, as they had been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. [9] She had also contributed to schoolbooks on reproductive health. [1]

Awards and recognition

The Saparinah Sadli Award was established in 2002 to recognize activists whose work aligns with Sadli's vision. [10] Sadli herself received the Nabil Award in 2011 for her contributions to nation-building, [2] and in 2017, she received the Roosseno Award for her continued efforts to combat violence and discrimination against women. [5] She declined an offer of the Bintang Mahaputera Adipradana, Indonesia's second highest award for civilians. [5] She was recognized by the newspaper Kompas with a Cendekiawan Berdedikasi Award for her dedication to academia. [9] In 2023, in recognition of Sadli's academic endeavours, the scope of the Sadli Lecture – initiated by the University of Indonesia in conjunction with the Australian National University to commemorate Sadli's late husband – was expanded to cover gender issues. [11] That year, Sadli received a lifetime achievement award from Femina magazine. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selo Soemardjan</span> Indonesian senior academic (1915–2003)

Selo Soemardjan, also spelled as Selo Sumarjan or Selo Sumardjan, was a well known senior academic in sociology at the University of Indonesia, and is known as the Pioneer of Indonesian Social Sciences. He was awarded with the title Kanjeng Pangeran Haryo, a knighthood from the Yogyakarta Sultanate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammad Sadli</span> Indonesian economist

Mohammad Sadli was a leading Indonesian policymaker and economist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zivanna Letisha Siregar</span> Indonesian actress, TV host, model, book writer and Miss Universe Indonesia 2009

Zivanna Letisha Siregar is an Indonesian talk show host, book writer, philanthropist, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Puteri Indonesia 2008, She has a chance to represent Indonesia at Miss Universe 2009 Pageant in Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas, where she didn't make into the Top 15, but she won "Miss Popularity" award.

Mely Tan Giok Lan, professionally known as Mely G. Tan, was an Indonesian sociologist. Tan obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Indonesia, later receiving a scholarship to study at Cornell University. After finishing her doctorate at University of California, Berkeley, Tan returned to Indonesia and wrote extensively on economics and Chinese Indonesians. She was a founding commissioner of the National Commission on Violence against Women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toeti Heraty</span> Indonesian poet (1933–2021)

Toeti Heraty was an Indonesian poet. She has been singled out as the "only woman amongst the leading contemporary Indonesian poets".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sastra wangi</span> Indonesian literary genre

Sastra wangi is a label given to a new body of Indonesian literature written by young, urban Indonesian women who take on controversial issues such as politics, religion and sexuality. Initiating the movement was writer Ayu Utami's best-selling first novel, Saman (1998), a contemporary view of Indonesian society published two weeks before the downfall of President Suharto. Large numbers of similar works by young women have followed.

The Indonesia Project is a center of research and graduate training on the Indonesian economy at the Australian National University (ANU). It is located in the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, part of the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific in Canberra. It was established in 1965 with an initial grant from the Ford Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Retno Marsudi</span> Indonesian diplomat and politician

Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi is an Indonesian diplomat who formerly served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet of Joko Widodo between 2014 and 2024. She is the first female minister appointed to the post. She was previously the Indonesian Ambassador to the Netherlands from 2012 to 2014, as well as Ambassador to Iceland and Norway from 2005 to 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gadis Arivia</span> Indonesian feminist philosopher, lecturer, scholar, and activist

Gadis Arivia is an Indonesian feminist philosopher, lecturer, scholar, and activist. While teaching feminism and philosophy at the University of Indonesia, Arivia founded Jurnal Perempuan, Indonesia's first feminist journal, in 1996. She was arrested by the Suharto government for protesting against the regime in 1998.

Julia Indiati Suryakusuma is an Indonesian feminist, journalist, and author. She is known for her outspoken writing on sexuality, gender, politics and religion. She has been described as Indonesia's most provocative columnist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yohana Yembise</span> Indonesian academic and politician

Yohana Susana Yembise is an Indonesian academic and politician who served as Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection in Joko Widodo's Working Cabinet from 2014 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Riyanti Yusuf</span> Indonesian writer

Dr. Nova Riyanti Yusuf, SpKJ (psychiatrist) born in Palu, Central Sulawesi, was an Indonesian author. Nova often calls herself NoRiYu. Nova was a member of the House of Representatives as a representative of the Democratic Party for the 2009 - 2014 and 2014–2019 period. During her term as a representative, she initiated and supported the Mental Health Law. The bill was passed into Law in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Putih Sari</span> Indonesian politician (born 1984)

Putih Sari is an Indonesian politician and legislator. She became a member of the Indonesian Parliament for the Gerindra Party in the national electoral district West Java VII. She was part of Commission IX of the DPR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feminism in Indonesia</span>

Feminism in Indonesia refers to the long history of discourse for gender equality to bring about positive social change in Indonesia. The issues women in Indonesia currently are facing include gender violence, underage marriages, and lack of representation in the political system. Feminism and the women's right movement began during colonial Indonesia under Dutch rule and were spearheaded by the national heroine Kartini, a Javanese noblewoman who advocated for the education of all women and girls regardless of social status. In the early 19th century, women's rights organizations and movements were allowed to developed under Budi Utomo, the first Indonesian Nationalist organization. Modern day Indonesian feminism include and are influenced by both fundamentalist and progressive Islamic women's organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalaluddin Rakhmat</span> Indonesian politician (1949–2021)

Jalaluddin Rakhmat, also known by the nickname of Kang Jalal, was an Indonesian academic and politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle who became the member of the People's Representative Council from 2014 until 2019.

The National Commission on Violence against Women is an Indonesian independent state institution established in 1998 with the goal of eliminating violence against women. It is one of three such institutions, the other two being the National Commission on Human Rights and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premana Premadi</span> Indonesian astronomer

Premana Wardayanti Premadi is an Indonesian astronomer who is a professor at the Bandung Institute of Technology. She has been head of the Bosscha Observatory since 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisda Hendrajoni</span> Indonesian politician (born 1973)

Lisda Hendrajoni is an Indonesian politician of Minangkabau descent who is a member of the House of Representatives (DPR), serving since 2019. Additionally, she is the chairperson of the Indonesian Muslim Entrepreneurs Association (IPEMI) West Sumatra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nadin Amizah</span> Indonesian singer and songwriter (born 2000)

Nadin Amizah is an Indonesian singer and songwriter. She had her breakthrough after collaborating with Dipha Barus on a single "All Good" in 2017. A year later, she released her debut solo single "Rumpang" which garnered her the award of Best New Artist at the 2019 Anugerah Musik Indonesia.

Mayling Oey-Gardiner is an Indonesian demographer who has written extensively about the gender dimensions of poverty, labour, and education. Taught in the United States and Australia, Oey-Gardiner began teaching at the Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia, in 1971. She was made a full professor in 2001.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kompas 2009, Saparinah Sadli.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Suryakusuma 2011, Saparinah Sadli.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sadli 2002, p. 82.
  4. 1 2 3 University of Indonesia 2023, Selamat Ulang Tahun.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ulung 2017, Saparinah Sadli.
  6. ↑ Sadli 2002, p. 83.
  7. ↑ Sadli 2002, pp. 87–89.
  8. ↑ Napitupulu 2024, Perempuan Doktor Sosiologi.
  9. 1 2 Pambudy 2024, Perempuan Doktor Sosiologi.
  10. ↑ Simanjuntak 2016, Saparinah Sadli.
  11. ↑ Crawford School 2023, Sadli Lecture.
  12. ↑ Liswijayanti 2023, 3 Wanita Hebat.

Works cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.