Testimony of a Feminist Vader

"Luke, I am your Father. But don't forget your Mother too. She's awesome."

Recently many people have asked me:

"Why did you dressed up as Darth Vader to #WomensMarchJkt?"

I came to the #WomensMarchJkt dressed as Darth Vader because he's unique. He was a good man at first and then he turned bad and then good again. I think the same thing applies to all of us. We might be in a world where people are still patriarchal, sexist, racist today, but we can change them. They can be good.

I also came to the march with my Mom because she's my inspiration. Everything I am would be nothing without her. She took care of me on her own for many years after she got divorced. Hard-working, formidable women like my Mom and other outstanding women like Kartini Kendeng, Mama Yosepha Alomang, Maria Catarina Sumarsih are the living testament of feminism. Women are just incredible
. Women are capable of being whoever they want to be, despite all of the social, political, or cultural limitations that are bestowed upon them.

On the other hand, #WomensMarchJkt and other marches around the world has proven a transcendental point that feminism isn't only about women per se. It's about building a collective awareness in our society about how dignity, equality, and justice must be facilitated by the government indiscriminately, and how we, the people have to fathom and respect those aspects in every aspects of our lives.

It's about eroding the nagging, despicable ego within ourselves who might think that some people deserve to be treated unfairly because of who they are or what chose they believe in.

We are all the masters of ourselves, and above all the choices we make, the differences we have, from womb to tomb, we are all still the same mortal, imperfect human beings, yet capable of giving unconditional affections to each other, regardless of who we are or what we chose believe in.

The fight for the cause we're trying to achieve is far from over, but this march has reminded us that we'll never be alone in our fights.

Keep the fights going!

We'll walk this path until the crowds become the population, and the principles become the reality we're living in.

May the force be with us.