kartini was the fifth child and second eldest daughter in a
family of eleven, including born into a family with a strong intellectual
tradition. her grandfather, pangeran ario tjondnegoro IV, became a regency
chief at the age of 25 while kartini's older brother sosrokartono was an
accomplished linguist.
kartini's family allowed her to attend school until was 12
years old. here, among other subjects, she learnt to speak fluent dutch, an
unusual accomplishment for javanese women
at the time. after she turned 12 she was secluded at home, a common
practice among javanese nobility, to prepare young girls for their marriage.
during seclusion irls were not allowed to leave their parents house until they
were married, at which point authority over them was transferred to their
husbands. kartini's father was more lenient than some during his daughter's
seclusion, giving her such privilegs as embroidery lessons and occasional
appearance in public for special events.
during her seclusion, kartini contiuned to educate herself
on her own. because kartini could speak dutch, she acquired several dutch pen
friends. one of them, a girl by the name of rosa abendanon, became her very
close friend. books, newspaper and european magazines fed kartini's interest in
european feminist thinking, and fostered the desire to improve the conditions
of indigenous women, who at that time had a very low social status.
