Maria Ulfah Santoso
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Mr. Hj. Maria Ulfah Santoso |
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Santoso c. 1955
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| 3rd Social Minister of Indonesia | |
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In office 12 March 1946 – 26 June 1947 |
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| President | Sukarno |
| Preceded by | A.D. Tjokronegoro |
| Succeeded by | Soeparjo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
18 August 1911 Serang, Banten, Dutch East Indies |
| Died | 15 April 1988 (aged 76) Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Citizenship | Indonesian |
| Spouse(s) | R. Santoso Wirodihardjo (1938–1946) Soebadio Sastrosatomo (1964–1988) |
| Religion | Muslim |
Meester Hajjah Maria Ulfah Soebadio Sastrosatomo (18 August 1911 – 15 April 1988), better known by her first married name Maria Ulfah Santoso, was an Indonesian women's rights activist and politician. She was the first Indonesian woman to receive a degree in law as well as the first female Indonesian cabinet member.
Santoso, the daughter of a politician, became interested in women's rights after seeing numerous injustices in her youth. Despite pressure to become a doctor, she graduated with a degree in law from Leiden University in 1933; while in the Netherlands she also became involved in the Indonesian nationalist movement, Upon returning to the Dutch East Indies, Santoso began teaching and working towards marriage reform. She was a member of the Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence, and later became the social minister from 12 March 1946 to 26 June 1947. After her term, she continued to work with the government in various capacities.
Chosen for the cabinet post in part for her emancipatory activities, Santoso paved the way for other female cabinet members, including S. K. Trimurti in 1947. She received several awards from the Indonesian government for her activities.
Santoso was born in Serang, Banten, Dutch East Indies, on 18 August 1911 to R.A.A. Mohammad Achmad and his wife R.A. Hadidjah Djajadiningrat. The youngest of three children, Santoso spent her childhood in Kuningan, where her father served as regent. One day, an ill aunt came over looking for help. However, upon receiving a letter from her husband, the aunt returned home and died not long after. Santoso later described this incident as inspiring her to work for women's rights.
While Santoso was still in elementary school, her father sent her to Batavia (modern day Jakarta) to live with a Dutch family at Willemslaan Elementary School; while in Batavia she completed her middle schooling at Koning Willem III Middle School. While in Batavia, Santoso observed further women's issues, such as how women were devastated when their husbands took second wives or divorced them without cause. Despite her father wanting her to be a doctor, Santoso insisted on going into law.
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