Saparinah Sadli: A Century of Curiosity, Courage and Conviction
As Saparinah Sadli turns 100 on Aug. 24, she stands not only as a witness to a century of Indonesian history, but as an active shaper of the country’s social conscience. A pioneering psychologist, founder of gender studies in Indonesia and fierce defender of human rights, Ibu Sap, as she is fondly known, has turned intellectual thought into bold leadership, combining courage with a distinctly feminine spirit of compassion.
Choosing her own path
Born in 1926 during the Dutch colonial period, Saparinah grew up in a privileged social environment. Her father was a civil servant in the Netherlands Indies administration, giving her access to a European education, yet traditional customs prevailed at home. Her father received the best food, while her brother enjoyed freedoms she did not.
Perhaps it was this early experience that helped shape her independent spirit. Her family steered her toward pharmacy, but Saparinah was inspired instead by the determination of Marie Curie. As a girl, she would climb the tallest tree in the garden and bury herself in books, including Curie’s biography.
Curie became her role model, but it was the human psyche and the dignity of human beings that would become the lifelong focus of her work. After graduating from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Gadjah Mada University in 1953, Saparinah turned to psychology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1961, doctorate in 1976 and became a full professor in 1985.
Her academic curiosity eventually became activism. She noticed psychology textbooks often treated women as footnotes, overlooking their different experiences, concerns and aspirations. When the University of Indonesia established its postgraduate Women’s Studies program in 1989, Saparinah revitalized it, building networks with international scholars and turning it into an important center for gender studies and action.
Read also: The Life and Legacy of Saparinah Sadli: Championing Gender Equality and Inspiring Generations
Walking into the palace
Her name is inseparable from the struggle for justice following the May 1998 riots, when women, particularly ethnic Chinese women, were subjected to sexual violence. Saparinah led a delegation of 22 women activists and academics to meet then-president BJ Habibie on July 15, 1998, pressing the government to acknowledge the violence and apologize.
The meeting resulted in Habibie publicly condemning the violence against women. Later that year, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) was established, with Saparinah as its first chairperson.
Earlier, a statement by women from different academic and professional backgrounds had gathered the support of some 4,000 people. The Women’s Studies program became a space where women from different disciplines could come together, turning scholarship into collective action.
Saparinah’s activism extended beyond gender. She served on the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and was part of the joint fact-finding team investigating the May 1998 riots. She also demonstrated her ability to bring women’s voices directly to centers of power.
In February 1998, when World Bank president James Wolfensohn visited Jakarta, his wife initially sought to meet prominent Indonesian women. Saparinah and the women activists insisted they wanted to meet the decision-maker himself. Wolfensohn changed his schedule and met them at the Hilton Executive Club.
The group presented data on the impact of World Bank economic policies and demanded a role in decision-making. Wolfensohn subsequently acknowledged errors in judgment and took corrective action, an episode reported in Indonesian and international media.
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Curious at 100
For all her achievements, Ibu Sap has remained remarkably modest, outspoken and curious. Even at an advanced age, she has kept pace with the times. She once expressed a wish to visit ArtJOG, the contemporary art fair in Yogyakarta, and was happy to stay at a modest hotel while spending hours at the fair engaging with artists and learning about their ideas and creative visions.
Another of her habits is perhaps less intellectual but equally revealing: after every outing, she takes a bath. Even on days when she stays home, she may bathe several times.
Could that be her elixir of longevity? Perhaps the answer is simpler: Saparinah has never stopped being curious, learning and engaging with the world around her.
The Saparinah Sadli Award, launched in 2002 to mark her 75th birthday, reflects the same spirit. It was conceived by women activists who felt there were too many awards recognizing men and too few honoring women. Debra Yatim and Smita Notosusanto were among those who proposed naming the award after Saparinah, a fierce advocate of gender justice and passionate motivator.
Since its first award in 2004, recipients have tackled issues ranging from reproductive rights and environmental advocacy to women’s economic empowerment, gender justice, peace, multiculturalism, child marriage, pluralism and inclusion. The award’s ninth edition this year, with its winner to be announced on Aug. 27, focuses on climate change and related action.
A recipient of the Bintang Mahaputra, one of Indonesia’s highest state honors for outstanding individuals, Saparinah has spent a century showing strength need not be loud. Her example is a lasting lesson in being bold and brave while confronting adversity with femininity, dignity and compassion.
Cheers, Bu Sap, on your 100th birthday.
This article was published in thejakartapost.com with the title ‘Saparinah Sadli: A century of curiosity, courage and conviction‘.
