I evaluated language and/or discourse to find out interpersonal positioning and relationships between the characters involved in the stories, helped by a linguist theory of appraisal introduced by James Martin and Peter White.

All samples involved both male and female characters and their social relationship. Twenty of them have females as leading characters, largely portrayed as remarkably beautiful. However, they are described as lacking the power or right to express opinions or exert control over important issues in their life, such as marriage or domestic violence.

Like in Bete Dou no Mane Loro, a folktale from East Nusa Tenggara, the female character does not voice her objections when her father confines her in a tree house to ensure she stays a virgin. Bete Dou stays silent even when her brother hits her as a consequence of her secret marriage to Mane Loro.

In Batu Badaong, a folktale from Maluku, the female character does not express her disapproval when the children treat her very badly, including by beating her for not preparing their meals. Instead of complaining or cursing, she asks a big stone to eat her alive so that the children cannot see her anymore.

Female characters’ objections, refusals or opinions are identified in just seven stories. But still, their voices are disregarded, and moreover, in standing up for themselves, they are helped by princes, brothers, assistants, or magical creatures and power.

For example, in Putri Hijau, a folktale from North Sumatra, the female character refuses to be married to a king from Aceh. Her rejection angers the king and prompts him to declare war. In order to stand for her refusal and save the kingdom, her brothers help her. The brothers are known as incarnations of a cannon and a giant snake.

Other examples with a similar discourse are the legends of Tangkuban Parahu mountain and Roro Jonggrang. Both female characters in the stories, Dayang Sumbi and Roro Jonggrang, utter their refusal to be married to the male characters. But their voices are not taken into account and thus they ask for help.

Sadly, it is only in Sabai nan Aluih, a Minang folktale, I figured out a female character who conveyed her objection without any help or protection from other characters. While Dayang Sumbi and Roro Jonggrang need help from their assistants to roll out a red scarf to trick the male characters, Sabai nan Aluih chooses to take a weapon, meet the man who is forcing her to marry and shoot him dead.

The findings from the appraisal above culminated in my recent concern regarding the effects of retelling those folktales to children as bedtime stories.

Parents cannot expect their daughters to become strong women by telling folktales in which the female characters are voiceless.

Female characters who depend on other people’s assistance and protection when voicing their objections cannot set good examples to make our daughters independent women. Moreover, the emphasis on the remarkably beautiful quality of female characters in the stories may only result in our daughters’ obsession for physical beauty rather than intelligence, strength or kindness.

And when we tell our sons such stories from time to time we may cultivate prejudices about women. If so, how can we teach them to respect women’s voices and develop fair-mindedness in the future?

I’m not saying Indonesian folktales are bad for children. I think it is time to shift bedtime activities from just telling stories to having fruitful discussions with the children about the stories. Discussion encourages children to question the characters, plot or ending of the stories. Parents or the storyteller can raise one or two questions that will evoke children’s critical thinking.

Indonesian authors, especially children’s book authors, bear the responsibility of introducing strong female characters to young readers. Qualities like brave, independent, kind-hearted, open-minded, smart, persistent, thoughtful and honest should be given emphasis.

Bedtime stories that portray female characters as strong figures can inspire our children to replicate such qualities. International Women’s Day is the perfect time to remind ourselves of the unfinished job of nurturing future strong women.

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The writer, who holds a Master’s degree in English education, is an award-winning children’s book author and independent researcher in linguistics. Her books were published by The Language Development and Fostering Agency for National Literacy Movement.

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