Kartini & Kartono

Can you imagine that some fifty years ago in Indonesia women could not work in the office, could not say no to the husband, and couldn't wear jeans and trousers?
Can you imagine that such things ever happened in our history? And can you imagine how great it was?

Oops sorry. Of course I was talking from men's perspective. As today is very near to 21 April, let’s talk more about women’s rights.
April 21st is the day where women in Indonesia commemorate the work of Kartini, a woman who, through her struggle and endurance, enabled today's women, throughout the country, to realize one important thing: how inconvenient it is to wear kebaya dress in school during Kartini's celebration.

But Kartini also showed women that they should have equal rights. So thanks to her, now women can get a job in any field that they want (including a bus driver, really), wear any clothes that they want, shout to their husbands any words that they want. It's a great era for women indeed, thanks to the struggle started by Kartini.

So, now it's time for men also shout, "We also want equal right!"
Now it's okay for women to do everything that men do. But when a man does something that belongs to women, all other men will look at him in a way that makes him feels like he forgets to put his pants on. If you don't believe me, try to wear mascara and lipstick to your office.
Men also want women's rights. Some of them at least. Men also want to spend hours in the bathroom (mostly fall asleep). Men also want to throw tantrum without any valid reason and have women agreeing with them (it's the time of the month). Men also want to ask women whether their pants make their butts look big (of course they do, but men won't believe it).

Anyway, I am just kidding about those rights (for now), because the problem with wanting equal rights is not about the rights. It’s that both parties want only the rights but not the responsibilities.
Women don't want to carry the heaviest bags, or to offer their seats on the bus to men, or to be blamed on bad financial condition.
Men, on the other hand, don't want to give birth, don't want to give birth, and don't want to give birth, period.
So for this year's Kartini's commemoration, let's not talk about equal rights over and over and over again. Let's talk about responsibility, otherwise I'm going to throw tantrum, because it's my time of the month.