Kartini and Transformational Leadership: An Overview of Women’s Representation in Indonesia

Kartini is an icon of the women’s rights movement in Indonesia, advocating for women’s emancipation despite patriarchal constraints. This study explores the values of Kartini’s advocacy and legacy through the lens of transformational leadership theory. It further provides an overview of the representation of women in Indonesia in leadership positions in politics, education, and business. This study employed a qualitative approach, and the data was collected using a literature study. This study argues that Kartini’s ideas regarding gender equality and her efforts to achieve them, which have served as a source of inspiration for Indonesians throughout generations, align with the values of transformational leadership. In relation to the current representation of women, the study finds that, despite the increase of women in leadership positions in politics, translating representation into policy outcomes favouring women remains challenging. In education, women dominate the teaching workforce. However, their ascent to leadership roles, especially in higher education, remains limited. Similarly, in business, although women are increasingly represented in senior management, gender diversity at the highest levels is a challenge.