Is local tradition backward? Is preserving traditional clothes – off-shoulder kemben, wearing traditional hair buns (konde), and tight fitting kebaya – a sin? Is ‘adat’ / culture something in the past and no longer relevant? Is it wrong to hold on to our own roots?
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Does wearing a veil represent spiritual consciousness?
Everything is changing so fast that we barely have time to think about it. How can women adjust? How can women hold on to their identity?
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This post is published to respond to current situations in Indonesia where wearing a hijab is considered a must, and traditional culture is forced to assimilate with Islamic norms. While the decision of wearing any type of clothes should be made by women and women only, this post is intended to raise awareness about the traditional culture of Indonesia that has existed long before Islam arrived.
Illustration by Nanda Bagus.
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Nanda Bagus is a queer illustrator, currently based in Bali and working with Perfect Fit, Indonesia on menstrual health and hygiene initiative. He illustrates his concerns into beautiful artwork everyone could relate.
For further discussion, send an email to sabdanaung01@gmail.com or follow his Instagram @nadslay
