Women in The Dutch East Indies

In Her Shoes Research Paper

Women of the Dutch East Indies

• Mostly towards end of Imperialism (1900-1945)
• Feminist Movement
• Marriage Laws
• Suffrage

Implications

Marriage in East Indies

• Interracial Marriage does not equate to tolerance
• Indonesian feminism is very closely related and reliant on nationalism/colonial independence
• Should not be a hierarchical categorization of feminisms/feminist movements

• Did not restrict inter-racial marriages
• Biracial/Eurasian children were granted full citizenship and legal rights (as long as the European parent recognized them as their children)
• Still racism against Eurasians and Indonesians
• Reformed legislation to eliminate:
• Polygamous practices
• Prostitution and concubinage
• Child marriages

http://footprinttravel.nl/indonesie/groepsreizen/groepsreis-indonesie-aletta-s-wereldreis_42/

The Engagement of Indonesian women

Aletta Jacobs &

The Association for Women's Suffrage

• Wanted equivalency, instead of equality
• Demanded not just suffrage, but also the right to run for office
• Worked together with Nationalist and Islamic groups to gain Indonesian Independence in 1945, and gained full political autonomy

“A force of uncultured talent waits to be harvested by us if only we give the women as well as the men of Java, the opportunity to develop.”

- Reisbrieven uit Afrika en Azie (1913) by Dr. Aletta Jacobs