YOUNG WOMEN WRITERS FROM THE PESANTREN TRADITION: Self-Initiative, Learning Environment, and the Education System

• Main Author: Nor Ismah
• Format: Article
• Language: Arabic
• Published: State Islamic University (UIN) of Sunan Ampel Surabaya 2012-12-01
• Series: Journal of Indonesian Islam
• Subjects: women writers; pesantren tradition; ‘ulama’
• Online Access: http://jiis.uinsby.ac.id/index.php/JIIs/article/view/109
• ISSN: 1978-6301; 2355-6994

<p>The emergence of a new generation of women writers from the <em>pesantren</em> tradition is an interesting issue in the landscape of Indonesian Islam. Especially, after for a long time, the authorship in the <em>pesantren</em> tradition has been dominated by men. This paper provides a brief description of the writing tradition in the <em>pesantren</em>. It examines how the writing tradition has been developed by the students. It also describes the extent to which women are involved in the writing tradition of <em>pesantren</em> and explores some differences between older generations and the new generation. The paper argues that the most influential factor in the writing achievement among young women writers is self-esteem and learning environments including family and <em>pesantren</em>. Self-esteem is partly developed in a learning environment in which the writers can sharpen their writing skills, strengthen their identities, and broaden their minds. The education system in the<em> pesantren</em> can offer valuable programs to support for this career development.</p>