MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, PRABUMULIH— Mother’s Day, celebrated on 22 December, should be interpreted as more than a commemoration to honor mothers and motherhood. Indeed, 22 December is a celebration reminiscing a milestone of the Indonesian women’s movement.
Thus, Mother’s Day in Indonesia should be commemorated differently from the celebration in Western states.
President of ‘Aisyiyah Salmah Orbayinah mentioned that Indonesians may respect 22 December. The date marks the first Indonesian women’s congress in Yogyakarta in 1928.
Mother’s Day, for Indonesian women’s movements, is a long journey to achieve equality that ‘Aisyiyah took the role in it.
An ‘Aisyiyah figure, Siti Munjiyah was the deputy chair of the first Indonesian women’s congress and delivered a speech on ‘positions of women.’
“It was an incredible speech, so the government should recognize it in the commemoration of Mother’s Day,” Salmah said.
Besides, ‘Aisyiyah assigned Siti Hayinah to the first women’s congress. She also presented ‘Unity of Mankind.’
Both Siti Munjiyah and Siti Hayinah were cadres trained by Nyai Siti Walidah. They were images of the breakthrough of Kiai and Nyai Dahlan against the patriarchal culture placing women as second-class human beings.
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