Gender equality that is successfully implemented will strengthen the economy, politics and education up to two times in a country, especially Indonesia. This is because the number of women in Indonesia is the same as the number of men (49.42% compared to 50.58%). So, if women become strong, intelligent, and independent, it is certain that the level of welfare of a nation will increase drastically. In addition, according to the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Sri Mulyani, the most effective way to promote gender equality in Indonesia is through real examples from leaders, especially women, as role models who have been successful in various fields. In this case are women who have been successful in fighting for Indonesian independence.

            Many female role models in Indonesia participated in the struggle for Indonesian independence. One of them was by forming an organization that aimed to improve the standard of living of the natives, who at that time were continuously undermined by the Dutch and Japanese colonialists. One of them is Kartini Fonds or Kartini Funds. Kartini Fonds is a women's movement organization founded on June 27, 1913 in the city of The Hague, Netherlands. This organization aimed to advance the education of indigenous women through a school establishment program. The success of the Kartini School education program has had a major impact on the birth of women's movement organizations in Indonesia. The Kartini School was able to produce female cadres in various regions who later became the founders of women's organizations such as Wanita Taman Siswa, Wanito Utomo, Aisyiyah, and others.

Apart from Kartini Fonds, an organization engaged in education for women is Putri Mardika. Putri Mardika aims to guide indigenous women in their education. Apart from that, Putri Mardika also had a goal to improve the welfare of Indonesian women. Putri Mardika implemented a scholarship program to support the education of indigenous women. This organization was also active in publishing Putri Mardika magazine to spread the idea of ​​independent women. The two organizations above are in fact very related, they have a very close relationship. This is evidenced by the figures of Putri Mardika who often use RA Kartini's ideas as the basis for organizational movements.

Female role models of independence fighters did not only struggle through organization and education. There are also many female role models who struggle with arms and are active in the military field. One of them is from Aceh, namely, Cut Nyak Dien. She fought to defend the freedom of the people of Aceh from Dutch colonial rule. She was on par with other fighters, namely Panglima Polim, Tengku Cik di Tiro and his husband, Teuku Umar. Cut Nyak Dien fought against the Dutch by means of guerrilla warfare from forest to forest assisted by the local Acehnese. However, the Dutch finally caught and exiled Cut Nyak Dien to Sumedang, West Java.

           In the scope of writing and publication, there are also women working in the scope of journalism. Ruhanna Kudus is the first female journalist in Indonesia. Ruhana struggled through her writings which were published in the women's newspaper Poetri Hindia. Then she founded the women's newspaper Soenting Melajoe in 1912. Her writings often criticized the patriarchal culture that was so strong in West Sumatra at that time, such as arranged marriages at an early age, polygamy, and women's restraint on economic access. After leaving Soenting Melajoe, Ruhana's influence is still very strong in the press world. At the end of her life, Ruhana decided to move back to her homeland, West Sumatra, and teach while continuing to write.

            Apart from those, there were also female role models who struggle to use political channels, namely establishing parties. She was Opu Daeng Risadju who came from Palopo, South Sulawesi. While in Pare-pare, she was active as a member of the Indonesian Islamic Union Party (PSII). Upon returning to Palopo, Opu Daeng Risadju founded the PSII branch in Palopo on January 14, 1930. She then expanded her struggle and caused concern for the Dutch government. Not only that, she was accused of provoking the people against the colonial government and was jailed for one year. Opu Daeng Risadju was recorded as the first woman to be imprisoned by the Dutch colonial government for political reasons.

            In becoming an activist ahead of independence, there was also a female role model who participated in the struggle to defend independence. She is Rasuna Said, an activist from West Sumatra. As a teenager, Rasuna Said decided to get involved in politics by becoming secretary of the West Sumatra branch of the People Union (SR) organization, an organization with Tan Malaka as a central figure. In her activities as a propagandist, Rasuna often made speeches in public criticizing the Dutch colonial government. She was brought before a colonial court, then imprisoned for one year on hate speech charges. Although power shifted into the hands of the Japanese, she was still determined to fight for independence. Until Indonesia became independent, Rasuna Said continued to be involved in politics.

Women's rights and gender equality are the targets of the Indonesian government which is continuously struggling for. The struggle to implement gender equality can also be carried out by means of women holding important positions in a country so that women have a strong and equal position with men. The female role models in the fight for independence are examples where women have strong role models, as well as holding the reins of independence. So, if women have a mentality like these role models, then gender equality will easily be realized in Indonesia. (Tim Seksi HI KPKNL Surakarta)