Suppose Raden Kartini lived now - in Indonesia or in India. She would go to university and study, she would get a degree. She would probably meet a nice young man and married him. He would also be studying for a degree. They would both start working. They would both be earning money, paying taxes etc. They would feel equal, they would be equals.
Now suppose Kartini's husband got a job offer from the United States and would accept it. He would continue to work in his field, make promotions, be respected, have a career. Raden Kartini however, would be stuck in their home, lonely beyond belief, mopping the floors. Her knowledge would become obsolete, her skills would erode. She would lose her self esteem, being the unwanted additional.
Kartini's life would be over, courtesy of the US government. (Just like mine.)
This "pardah" system of Islam is the most extreme. Across cultures, religions, time eras, there is no female seclusion that takes it as far as Islam does. Even today there is a country that is legally mandating it, Afghanistan. And you see the remnants of its influence even on some Hindus in Indian states like Rajasthan. But pre-Islamic India had no pardah. I don't know why sections of Hindus have failed to shake off this influence by now. Some pockets of Rajasthan remind me of Afghanistan.
Beautiful. I learn so much from your posts.
Suppose Raden Kartini lived now - in Indonesia or in India. She would go to university and study, she would get a degree. She would probably meet a nice young man and married him. He would also be studying for a degree. They would both start working. They would both be earning money, paying taxes etc. They would feel equal, they would be equals.
Now suppose Kartini's husband got a job offer from the United States and would accept it. He would continue to work in his field, make promotions, be respected, have a career. Raden Kartini however, would be stuck in their home, lonely beyond belief, mopping the floors. Her knowledge would become obsolete, her skills would erode. She would lose her self esteem, being the unwanted additional.
Kartini's life would be over, courtesy of the US government. (Just like mine.)
This "pardah" system of Islam is the most extreme. Across cultures, religions, time eras, there is no female seclusion that takes it as far as Islam does. Even today there is a country that is legally mandating it, Afghanistan. And you see the remnants of its influence even on some Hindus in Indian states like Rajasthan. But pre-Islamic India had no pardah. I don't know why sections of Hindus have failed to shake off this influence by now. Some pockets of Rajasthan remind me of Afghanistan.
Is common to refer to Islam as Muhamadem? I grew up in a Muslim majority country but never heard the term.
This is a 1920s translation, our language had since changed considerably.
I see. Was it just a Southeast Asian thing or common term across the world?
It was quite common.