Hello, I'm Kalis Mardiasih
Kalis Mardiasih (born in Blora, 16th February 1992) is a young female moslem writer and activist who campaigns for Indonesian diversity and gender equality in Islamic discourse. She writes a weekly column for several digital media, including detik.com, the biggest online digital media in Indonesia. Her article titled Don’t Let Women Left Behind nominated for Anugerah Swara Saraswati Award from Indonesian Women’s Coalition for Justice and Democracy on 2018 categorized in best online media journalism essay. She is based in Yogyakarta, Central Java.
She has published four books sold more than 20 thousands copies nation-wide titled: Berislam Seperti kanak-kanak (Being a Muslim as If You Were a Child), Muslimah yang Diperdebatkan (the Contested Muslimah), Hijrah Jangan Jauh-Jauh Nanti Nyasar (Never Hijrah Too Far: You Might Get Lost!), and Sisterfillah, You’ll Never Be Alone!.
Why are women always wrong? Why can't they speak up? Why should women be the most sincere, the most patient, and the least resistance?
—Women's Body and Respect for Life
Kalis Mardiasih has been known to the public when her writing entitled “Sebuah Curhat Untuk Girlband Hijab Syar’i (A Confession For Syar'i Hijab Girlband)” was published on Mojok.co website and was shared more than 17 thousand times. Since then, Kalis has been writing frequently and her writing has never shifted away from femininity issues.
The narrative written by Kalis in her books focuses on the body, veil, humanity and religiosity of women. Finally, happy reading!
Lately, Islam is considered as must be an empire, must try to conquer others through indoctrination processes and even coercion, must be close to the word "Islamic victory" or "Islamic glory", even for some Muslims it must be in the form of tribes war like in the pre-prophetic times. Islam in that descriptions, is not the Islam in Kalis imagination.
Kalis Mardiasih is concerned about the religious phenomenon which in the hands of some circles is so exclusive and creepy. For her, religion should be fun, filled with kindness, not suffocated by anger or conquering desire.
She finds these virtues in simple religious practices. She talks with modest people, witnesses their way of practicing piety, and finds a calm Islam there. Within herself, Islam grows together with joy.
Why do most books that talk about women are written by men? When talking about women, there are more reasons why women “go to hell younger”, women like showing off their body, they like gossiping and etc.
In fact, it is said that those who criticize and talk about women the most are fellow women. Is it true? Is there nothing that women can do for their fellow women, even starting from small things?
This book is a book about women written by a fellow woman. Women may be gentle, but women are also tough warriors. Women are beautiful; the beauty is not merely from their well-dressed or make up, but also because of their intelligence that makes them shine.
