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View all search resultsSaparinah Sadli: A century of curiosity, courage and conviction
A scholar, activist and mentor to generations of women, Indonesia’s pioneer of gender studies remains an enduring force for women’s rights and social justice.
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Lifetime of advocacy: Saparinah Sadli, a pioneering psychologist and women's rights advocate, poses in this file photo. She turns 100 on Aug. 24, 2026, after decades of advancing women's studies and human rights in Indonesia. (psikologi.ui.ac.id/-)
A
s Saparinah Sadli turns 100 on Aug. 24, she stands not only as a witness to a century of Indonesian history, but as an active shaper of the country’s social conscience.
A pioneering psychologist, a founder of gender studies in Indonesia and a fierce defender of human rights, Ibu Sap, as she is fondly known, has turned intellectual thought into bold leadership, combining courage with a distinctly feminine spirit of compassion.
Choosing her own path
Born in 1926 during the Dutch colonial period, Saparinah grew up in a privileged social environment. Her father was a civil servant in the Netherlands Indies administration, giving her access to a European education. Yet at home, traditional customs prevailed. Her father received the best food, while her brother enjoyed freedoms she did not.
Perhaps it was this early experience that helped shape her independent spirit.
Her family steered her toward pharmacy, but Saparinah was inspired instead by the determination of Marie Curie. As a girl, she would climb the tallest tree in the garden and bury herself in books, including Curie’s biography. Curie became her role model, but it was the human psyche and the dignity of human beings that would become the lifelong focus of her work.
After graduating from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Gadjah Mada University in 1953, Saparinah turned to psychology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1961, doctorate in 1976 and became a full professor in 1985.
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