Developing Reading Access

Abstract

The awakening of women has been felt through movements and forms of struggle for hundreds of years, and this awakening has given birth to many influential women in the world. In Indonesia, many women's movements face various dynamic and persistent struggles to acquire an education. One association addressing these struggles is Aisyiyah, headquartered in East Java. Aisyiyah is a grassroots organization that aims to lessen the inequality experienced by women, especially in the areas of education and literacy. This study used a qualitative research method with a descriptive approach to focus on how Aisyiyah women navigate their educational journeys to build and provide access to reading for women in East Java so that Aisyiyah women are fortified to participate in modern life. The location of this research was in East Java, Indonesia, namely the areas of Sidoarjo Regency, Malang City, and Banyuwangi Regency, with a total of 30 respondents consisting of Aisyiyah leaders and members. The results represent the collaborative efforts of Aisyiyah and the larger Indonesian community in increasing public awareness of the importance of women’s education and literacy.

Keywords

• East Java
• feminism
• information access
• reading practices
• women's movement