People usually say it with a tone of realization, almost like discovering a hidden truth and often accompanies videos in which creators connect seemingly unrelated issues, from beauty standards and fashion trends to workplace norms and consumer products, back to the influence of men or male-dominated history.

Which made me wonder:

Why does such a simple phrase resonate with millions of people?

Whether the trend is “right” or “wrong”, isn’t really what interests me. What interests me is why such a simple phrase resonates with so many people in the first place.

For many people, “there’s a man” represents a moment of realization. It’s that “oh” feeling. To me, the phrase doesn’t sound like an accusation at first, it sounds like realization. It feels like discovering something you weren’t supposed to know, but somehow should have known all along. Maybe that’s why so many people relate to it.

The feeling isn’t anger at first. It’s disappointment. That quiet “oh..” moment when something you assumed was natural suddenly doesn’t feel so neutral anymore.

It tells people that maybe they weren’t overthinking after all. Maybe those strange feelings they couldn’t explain weren’t so irrational after all. Suddenly they’re not the only one asking those questions.

That collective reaction helps explain why the trend feels so satisfying. We naturally look for patterns because they help us make sense of a world that often feels overwhelming. It transforms a complicated discussion into a sentence that’s easy to understand and even easier to share.

Still, dismissing the trend entirely would also be unfair, there are plenty of moments where the trend points toward something real.

Think about it. For most of history, men held most positions of power and as a result many institutions were designed with male experience as a default. Take automobile safety testing, for decades crash test dummies primarily represented average male bodies compared to the higher injury risks for women in certain types of crash. The same goes for medical research historically underrepresented female participants, leaving significant gaps in understanding women’s health.

In cases like these, saying “There’s a man” makes people question and be encouraged to ask, who designed a system like that? Whose experiences were prioritized? And who may have been overlooked all these decades? .

The phrase should be the beginning of critical inquiry rather than the end of it.

The same applies to certain beauty standards, expectations of women’s body hair that are heavily influenced and pressed by the advertisement of razor companies after expanding to the female consumer market. Portraying a natural body hair as unhygienic and unfeminine, completely reshaping the world’s already heavy expectation for women. By recognizing this pattern and learn the history, it explains why some beauty practice exist today without suggesting that every individual woman participates solely because of male approval

A woman can wear makeup because she enjoys the artistic behind it, it increases her confidence, her self esteem, because of workplace expectation, because of peer influence, because of marketing, or because she finds it personally fulfilling.

But, even if a practice originally built under patriarchal conditions major centuries ago, the meaning behind it can evolve over time.

If one reduces every personal decision to “because men” they simply risk removing women’s own agency. It will unintentionally portray women as passive participants who simply react to male influence rather than as a complete human being and an individual capable of making thoughtful and independent choices. Just because one recognizes the pattern and influence, it should not erase another whole personal autonomy.

But here’s the question I kept coming back to: Can one explanation really account for something as messy as human behavior?

Once someone starts seeing the world through that lens, it’s surprisingly easy to find more evidence for it. Suddenly every advertisement, every tradition, every beauty trend, even the smallest everyday interaction starts to feel connected. The more examples you find, the more convincing the theory becomes, at the same time you might also become less likely to notice the examples that don’t fit.

If one explanation can be stretched to fit in every situation, maybe it isn’t really explaining much anymore or anything at all.

Social media makes this even more powerful. Tiktok rewards content that’s easy to understand, relatable, and enough to repeat. “There’s a man” checks every box. It’s memorable, and gives people that satisfying feeling of finally having an answer.

Imagine this, A woman says she genuinely enjoys wearing makeup. Then someone reponds, “you only think you enjoy it because patriarchy conditioned you.” So who has the greater authority over that experience? The person living it or the person interpreting it?

Maybe that’s the gift and the danger of the phrase. Is that it encourages people to be daring and question assumptions they previously accepted without reflection, on the contrary the greatest weakness is when it substitutes investigation with certainty. Like, instead of asking “could this be influenced by male dominance?” The dialogue stops at “there’s a man”. It became just a short conclusion rather than an invitation to explore the questions, doubts and assumptions.

If every man disappeared tomorrow, would makeup disappear too? probably not. Women would still influence one another. Fashion would still evolve. Beauty standards would still change. That’s because culture has a way of outliving the people who first shaped it. Recognizing where something came from doesn’t necessarily explain why it continues today.

Maybe that’s exactly why the trend became so popular. It doesn’t just offer an explanation. It offers closure, and closure feels irresistible. But history, culture, and human behavior rarely gives us that luxury. Sometimes the most honest answer isn’t a single sentence. It’s another question.That doesn’t mean men had no influence. It simply means culture has a way of surviving the people who shaped it first.

Caroline Criado Perez. (2019). Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. Abrams Press.

McKnight Nichols, C., & Unger, N. C. (2022). A Companion to the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. John Wiley & Sons.

Menurut hasil studi New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) pada tahun 2015 yang berjudul From Cradle to Cane : The Cost of Being a Female Consumer “Produk yang ditargetkan untuk perempuan harganya lebih mahal 7% dibandingkan dengan produk yang ditargetkan untuk laki-laki”. Dari kutipan di atas, hal yang masih sering dianggap wajar dalam kehidupan sehari-hari ini merupakan bentuk diskriminasi yang dialami oleh banyak perempuan di berbagai negara, termasuk di Indonesia.

Pink tax dapat dikatakan sebagai diskriminasi karena dalam kategori penghasilan, perempuan cenderung mendapatkan penghasilan yang lebih rendah dari laki-laki. Dengan upah yang lebih rendah, kebutuhan hidup yang lebih mahal, hal ini menjadi salah satu faktor penting yang berkontribusi pada ketimpangan kekayaan berbasis gender.

Pink tax dapat terjadi karena berbagai alasan, seperti biaya produksi, permintaan pasar dan kebiasaan konsumen. Beberapa perusahaan menggunakan strategi yang berbeda untuk menarik pelanggan perempuan dan laki-laki. Seperti penggunaan desain dan warna yang sedikit mencolok pada produk yang digunakan perempuan. Selain itu, beberapa produk yang ditargetkan untuk perempuan juga memiliki biaya produksi yang lebih tinggi daripada produk laki-laki.

Solusi nyata untuk memberantas pink tax ini adalah melalui gerakan masyarakat yang berfokus untuk menyuarakan isu kesetaraan gender dan kesadaran dari diri sendiri. Contoh kecil dan nyata saat berbelanja untuk tidak menormalisasi pink tax adalah dengan membeli barang sesuai standar kebutuhan dan finansial diri sendiri, bukan untuk mengikuti standar sosial.

Note :

Perubahan kecil bisa dimulai dari diri sendiri. Bijaklah dalam berbelanja. Jangan gunakan standar hidup orang lain untuk hidupmu. Di kehidupan yang hanya sekali ini, jadilah manusia yang bahagia.

Era 80-an hingga puncaknya di tahun 2000-an telah membangun identitas yang dirindukan oleh para milenial yang pernah merasakannya, sekaligus membuat generasi baru mulai mengeksplorasi dan menciptakan kembali suasana tersebut melalui tren fashion nostalgia seperti Y2K. Sempat ada ruang dan waktu di mana orang memiliki kebebasan untuk mengekspresikan jati diri lewat pop culture, terlebih lagi di Indonesia yang meromantisasi lagu-lagu ikonik mulai dari dangdut, pop, hingga lagu galau yang terasa lebih jujur seperti karya Agnez Mo, Melly Goeslaw, Bunga Citra Lestari, Supergirlies, dan lainnya.

Pada saat itu, tidak ada yang takut dipandang aneh, dramatis, vulgar, ataupun mencolok. Bahkan dalam bermusik, lirik tidak selalu harus terdengar puitis atau kompleks untuk terasa kuat. Semuanya terasa lebih bebas, spontan, dan natural tanpa takut berbeda dari orang lain. Malahan, being different and uncomplicated was considered cool.

Namun, pop culture mulai bergeser pada pertengahan tahun 2010 ketika media sosial berkembang, dan masyarakat ikut berubah bersamanya. Perubahan dalam fashion dan estetika mulai terasa saat instagram mendominasi, membuat semuanya terasa lebih curated, monochrome, dan minimalist. Fashion perlahan kehilangan sisi dramatisnya, sementara industri musik mulai bergerak ke arah yang lebih restrained sejak hadirnya platform streaming dan budaya playlist yang mendorong lagu-lagu menjadi lebih aman, halus, dan mengikuti mood tertentu. Tanpa disadari, dunia perlahan berubah menjadi hitam dan putih.

Di saat dunia mulai terasa abu-abu, Naykilla atau Nayya Rahmania, seorang musisi asal Jawa Timur, hadir membawa kembali warna. Nayya, atau yang lebih dikenal sebagai Naykilla, menjadi pusat perhatian setelah keterlibatannya dalam lagu “Garam & Madu” bersama Tenxi dan Jemsii. Melalui gaya berpakaian yang playful, musik yang ekspresif, serta perilaku yang memancarkan energi feminin, Naykilla hadir sebagai pengingat bahwa menjadi berbeda bukanlah sesuatu yang harus disembunyikan.

Naykilla berhasil membawa angin segar dalam meningkatkan kembali ketertarikan terhadap genre dangdut melalui perpaduan sentuhan hip-hop modern. Selain memberikan pengaruh di Indonesia, ia juga turut memperkenalkan musik dangdut berbahasa Indonesia dan Jawa kepada audiens internasional. Perpaduan dangdut dengan elemen hip-hop modern serta lirik berbahasa Inggris membuat musik Naykilla terasa lebih dekat dengan selera generasi muda Indonesia maupun internasional saat ini, tanpa kehilangan identitas lokal yang menjadi ciri khasnya.

Perhatian terhadap perubahan fashion juga dapat terlihat terutama dalam konser-konser yang diadakan oleh Naykilla. Aura yang ia hadirkan ikut mempengaruhi para penggemarnya untuk lebih berani memancarkan kepribadian masing-masing melalui pakaian dan aksesori yang unik, playful, dan penuh warna. Meskipun sebagian audiens masih merasa awam melihat gaya tersebut, hal ini menjadi langkah besar dalam menghadirkan sensasi yang refreshing di dunia entertainment. Fenomena ini juga membuktikan bahwa pop culture akan selalu berputar dan terus dimodifikasi oleh generasi baru.

Naykilla membuka kembali ketertarikan generasi muda terhadap dangdut yang selama ini sempat dianggap “tidak keren,” terutama oleh Gen Z. Selain itu, Naykilla dapat menjadi role model bagi banyak perempuan untuk tampil lebih unik, berani, dan feminin tanpa harus mengikuti gaya yang monoton dan kaku. Kembalinya era ekspresif seperti ini memberikan gambaran tentang bagaimana generasi sebelumnya mampu mengekspresikan dirinya dengan lebih bebas sebelum media sosial mulai menciptakan batasan-batasan visual terhadap cara seseorang tampil dan diterima di masyarakat.

Don’t be afraid to show the world who you are in every space and timeline!

Following the theme of the 78th Met Gala, “costume art,” or dubbed appropriately as “Fashion Is Art,” which celebrates fashion as an embodied art form and the relationship between clothing and the body through art history, actress and singer Rachel Zegler attended the 78th Met Gala in a custom atelier Prabal Gurung gown, inspired by Paul Delaroche’s 1833 painting, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey.

Zegler’s dress is made out of pearl silk moire with a handcrafted laced bodice placed on the front of the gown and a fitted skirt with a bow and detailed trim. She then wore a custom silk chiffon semi-transparent eye cover made by Jennifer Behr.

These details are carefully chosen to pay homage to the details of what Lady Jane Grey wore in the painting.

The painting depicts the final moments before the execution of the 19-year-old Lady Jane Grey. To maintain a protestant succession line following the death of Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen. After only nine days, she was tried for treason and ordered to be executed by her Catholic cousin, Mary Tudor, later Queen Mary I.

Per the description of The National Gallery UK, “She is being guided towards it by Sir John Brydges, Lieutenant of the Tower. Her outer clothing has already been removed and is gathered in the lap of a lady-in-waiting, who has slumped to the ground.”

In the painting, Lady Jane Grey’s inner clothing, which is depicted as a laced bodice with a long train of silk skirt, is white to symbolize her youth and purity.

Her eyes were also covered with a completely opaque white blindfold, which resulted in Sir John Brydges guiding her towards the execution block after she cried out, “What shall I do? Where is the block?.”

Rachel completed her look with Marco Bicego rings and earrings and a pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes.

Through Zegler’s gown, Prabal Gurung and Jennifer Behr gave a modern take to a centuries-old artwork. The look captured the somberness shown in Delaroche’s painting, whilst also including a touch of edginess.

Spectators have stated that the choice of making the blindfold to not completely cover Zegler’s vision, as it does for Lady Jane Grey’s, is a way to symbolize how Rachel (a stand-in for women) has a better view of the world, and therefore, can stand proudly on their own authority.

Or it could simply be so Zegler could see better and not trip on the legendary Metropolitan Museum steps, but hey, if the symbolism turned out to be true, then we ought to give a second round of applause for Prabal Gurung and Jennifer Behr.

References:

https://www.justjared.com/2026/05/04/rachel-zegler-attends-met-gala-2026-days-after-evita-broadway-transfer-news/

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a71208634/rachel-zegler-met-gala-2026-red-carpet-photos/

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paul-delaroche-the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey

https://christopherpjones.medium.com/a-young-womans-mortal-fate-captured-in-a-compelling-painting-0ca86c726a91

“You are failing us, but the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you, and if you choose to fail us, I say, we will never forgive you” were the words of Greta as she delivered her famous “how dare you” speech at the UN’s Climate Action Summit, where she was formally invited just one year after her solo school strike gained global attention. Her speech went viral immediately, and millions of people in more than 130 countries marched in climate strikes. Not only did she bring eyes to herself and her words, her actions ignited a surge of inspiration in youths across nations, spiking a massive global increase of environmental awareness, environmental activism, and behavioral changes in climate policies that have continued ever since, starting the “Greta Effect.”

December 2019, Greta Thunberg was named person of the year by Time Magazine, becoming the youngest individual to ever receive this title, further emphasizing the tangibility of the “Greta Effect.” However, she didn’t just stop there. Rather than solely leading protests, Greta also made sure to make an impact through other forms of media, proceeding to publish two books, namely No One is Too Small to Make a Difference (2019), and The Climate Book (2022), a curation of more than 100 experts’ insights on climate change.

From then on, Greta shifted her focus toward more than just climate policy, exploring a broader critique of global systems such as humanitarianism, economics, and world politics: even partaking in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to Gaza. Not only making a bold choice of activism, but also making the loudest ‘silent statement.’ Once again, she triggered the “Greta Effect,” drawing global attention and indirectly urging others to take action, further proving that truly, you are never too small to make a difference.

Menjadi perempuan kadang terasa seperti ikut kelas yang nggak pernah kita daftar. Semua orang seakan sudah tahu apa yang “seharusnya” mereka lakukan: pakai makeup, ngerti fashion, tampil rapi, dan selalu terlihat menarik. Sementara itu, banyak perempuan yang masih belum benar-benar belajar tentang semua itu. Bukan karena tidak mau, tapi memang tidak terbiasa, tidak tertarik, atau tidak merasa itu bagian dari dirinya. Namun, mereka yang tidak mengikuti ‘standar’ ini justru sering merasa tertinggal dari yang lain.

Tanpa kita sadari, terbentuklah sebuah pemahaman bahwa menjadi perempuan itu berarti kita harus mampu berdandan, harus tampil sesuai dengan ekspektasi sosial, dan harus tahu cara memenuhi standar kecantikan yang ada. Padahal, standar tersebut dibentuk oleh media yang terus diulang sehingga terlihat “wajar” untuk diikuti. Lalu, sejak kapan menjadi perempuan harus lulus “ujian” makeup dulu agar bisa disebut cantik?

Persepsi bahwa perempuan harus bisa dandan perlahan berkembang menjadi tekanan sosial yang tidak selalu terlihat, atau yang sering disebut sebagai beauty pressure. Standar ini tidak lagi sekadar ekspektasi, tetapi berubah menjadi sesuatu yang terasa harus dipenuhi agar bisa diterima. Tekanan tersebut hadir secara halus baik melalui komentar ringan, lingkungan sekitar, hingga gambaran yang terus muncul di media. Sehingga tanpa disadari banyak perempuan mulai menyesuaikan diri, bukan karena keinginan, tetapi karena takut dianggap berbeda.

Saat ini makeup sering kali tidak dipandang sebagai pilihan, melainkan seperti kewajiban tak tertulis. Kita memang tidak dipaksa secara langsung, tapi sering dibuat merasa “kurang” jika tidak melakukannya. Dari situlah rasa tidak percaya diri mulai tumbuh. Menurut American Psychological Association (2020), tekanan terhadap penampilan fisik dapat memengaruhi self-esteem perempuan, terutama pada usia remaja. Banyak perempuan yang akhirnya merasa tidak cukup feminin, tidak cukup cantik, atau bahkan tidak cukup sebagai “perempuan” hanya karena tidak memenuhi standar tersebut.

Penting untuk diketahui bahwa standar kecantikan yang kita lihat hari ini juga tidak bersifat tetap. Tahun ke tahun, ia terus berubah mengikuti tren dan budaya. Apa yang dianggap “cantik” sekarang, belum tentu sama beberapa tahun lalu, dan kemungkinan besar akan berubah lagi di masa depan. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa standar tersebut bukanlah sesuatu yang mutlak, melainkan konstruksi yang bisa dipertanyakan dan tidak harus selalu diikuti.

Faktanya, dandan itu hanyalah sebuah keterampilan—sama seperti memasak, menggambar, atau bermain musik. Ada yang sudah mempelajarinya dari kecil, ada yang baru mencobanya saat remaja, dan ada juga yang memilih untuk tidak mendalaminya sama sekali. Jadi sama saja seperti keterampilan yang lainnya, tidak semua orang harus jago, dan tidak semua perempuan wajib menguasainya.

Sebenarnya hal yang perlu dipertanyakan bukanlah diri kita, melainkan standar yang kita ikuti. Feminitas tidak sesempit itu, bukan sekedar tentang lipstik, eyeliner, atau outfit yang estetik. Menjadi feminin tidak hanya dilihat dari penampilan, melainkan dapat diwujudkan melalui berbagai cara seperti bagaimana kita berpikir, empati yang kita punya, dan keberanian untuk bisa menjadi diri sendiri. Pada dasarnya, dengan kita lahir sebagai perempuan saja, kita sudah cukup untuk menjadi “perempuan” itu sendiri.

Menjadi perempuan tidak datang dengan buku panduan yang harus diikuti. Tidak ada daftar yang perlu dicentang agar kita dianggap valid. Kamu tidak harus mahir berdandan untuk disebut perempuan, dan kamu tidak wajib mengerti atau bahkan mengikuti semua tren kecantikan untuk dapat merasa cukup. Kamu sudah cukup, bahkan sebelum semua standar itu ada. Ingatlah bahwa menjadi perempuan tidak pernah diukur dari itu semua. Pada akhirnya, menjadi perempuan adalah tentang menemukan dan menerima versi diri kita sendiri, bukan tentang memenuhi ekspektasi orang lain.

Mungkin yang perlu kita ubah bukanlah diri kita, tapi bagaimana cara kita memahami arti dari menjadi perempuan itu sendiri. Di tengah begitu banyak standar yang terus berubah, penting untuk menyadari bahwa nilai diri kita tidak pernah bergantung pada seberapa kita bisa menyesuaikan diri. Kita berhak mendefinisikan diri kita, tanpa harus merasa tertinggal hanya karena tidak mengikuti apa yang dianggap “seharusnya.” Jadi jika kamu tidak bisa dandan—gapapa, itu bukan kekurangan! Kamu tetaplah perempuan, seutuhnya.

Who is Greta Thunberg?

Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg (3 January 2003) is a Stockholm-born environmental and political activist who catalyzed the “School Strike for Climate” movement, also known as “Fridays for Future.” What started as a simple movement would quickly gain widespread international attention, and more people would join her struggle to fight for the environment, which would later be known as the “Greta effect.”

Early Life

Growing up, Thunberg had always cared greatly for the environment. She started becoming aware of climate change at the young age of 8. Then, at the age of 11, she was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (now a condition under Autism Spectrum Disorder). In addition to this, she had been facing depression around this time due to the lack of action taken by world leaders to solve the issue of climate change. Subsequently, she took measures within her own household in order to lower their carbon footprint, such as becoming vegan and completely avoiding air travel.

How did it all start?

It was not until August 2018 that Greta Thunberg would start her long and arduous fight for Mother Earth. Inspired by protests against gun violence done by high school students in Florida, she started her protest against the Swedish Parliament by holding a sign that said “School Strike for Climate” in Swedish. Through her protests, she gave speeches that urged Swedish policymakers to take more concrete action on climate change. While she had a lonely start at first, her peers and teachers would soon accompany her throughout a three week-long protest leading up to the Swedish election. After the elections ended in September 2018, their lobbying efforts would still continue to persist until Swedish policies were well-aligned with the Paris agreement.

Fortunately, Thunberg and her peers’ efforts would not go unnoticed. Her protests soon became a global spectacle, and would rapidly gain traction on social media. Soon enough, she was able to rouse thousands of youth activists from different parts of the world into joining her regular strikes on Friday, which would later be known as the Fridays for Future movement.

However, her legacy in climate activism would not end there. In September 2019, Thunberg sailed from Plymouth, England to New York, United States to participate in the UN Climate Action Summit 2019, where she gave a passionate speech (which can be found here) to the delegates which strongly condemned their inaction towards climate change. She has also attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on multiple occasions, where she has made similar speeches and demands towards achieving the Paris agreement’s aims, such as zero emissions and the 1.5 degree target. In the same year, the Greta Thunberg Foundation was established with the objective of a more sustainable climate and as a channel to distribute funds towards organizations with the same mission. Moreover, she took a year off school from 2019 to 2020 to focus on her climate activism to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 25) in Madrid, Spain.

What else has she done for the world?

Aside from climate advocacy, Greta Thunberg has also made significant contributions to other causes whilst prioritizing their humanitarian and environmental aspects. Firstly, Greta has outwardly supported Ukraine, and participated in an environmental working group to discuss ecological damage and create proper accountability mechanisms as a result of the Russian invasion. She has also criticized the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, and called for international action against Russia’s war crimes. Furthermore, she has been vocal about the ongoing genocide of Palestinians, stating in an article by The Guardian that the Fridays for Future movement has “always been political” and stood in solidarity with Palestinians, putting forward human rights above all else.

In response to Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid, Thunberg, along with 11 other passengers, as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) would go on a symbolic mission to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. They embarked on a yacht called The Madleen on 1 June 2025 from Catania, Italy. However, as they were nearing the Gaza Strip, The Madleen was seized by Israeli forces, and Thunberg was soon deported. Although Israeli foreign ministry has simply dismissed it as a gimmick and a “selfie yacht”, Thunberg continues to defend the effort, and speaking out for the genocide happening in Gaza.

How can she inspire us?

Greta Thunberg’s endeavor to achieve a better world for all is a glaring reminder that nothing is truly impossible as long as our hearts are set on it. Her unbreakable resilience and strength has helped her push boundaries and create an everlasting impact on youth climate activism, starting at the age of 15. Not only that, her passion for the climate and advocating for humanitarian efforts — even in the face of criticism — is admirable, and is the key to unlocking a more empathetic society and a sustainable world.

References

Alter, C., Haynes, S., & Worland, J. (2019). Greta Thunberg Is TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2019-greta-thunberg/

Associated Press News. (2023, June 30). Ukraine’s Zelenskyy meets Greta Thunberg and others to address the war’s effect on ecology. AP News. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-greta-thunberg-d72e2ab20a8eacb340e3de74aef8b6a9

Greta Thunberg | Gaza, Flotilla, Age, Education, Climate Change, & Activism. (2025, July 11). Britannica. Retrieved July 19, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Greta-Thunberg

Iowa State University. (2020). Greta Thunberg | Archives of Women’s Political Communication. Archives of Women’s Political Communication. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/greta-thunberg/

Lukiv, J., & Gritten, D. (2025, June 10). Greta Thunberg deported, Israel says, after Gaza aid boat intercepted. BBC. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y264x3nnno

Nationwide Children’s Hospital. (n.d.). Asperger’s Syndrome. Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/aspergers-syndrome

Reuters. (2023, June 30). Greta Thunberg slams world response to dam collapse ‘ecocide’ during Kyiv visit. Reuters. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greta-thunberg-slams-world-response-dam-collapse-ecocide-during-kyiv-visit-2023-06-29/

Right Livelihood. (n.d.). Greta Thunberg. Right Livelihood. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/greta-thunberg/

Thunberg, G. (n.d.). Fridays for Future – How Greta started a global movement. Fridays For Future. Retrieved July 19, 2025, from https://fridaysforfuture.org/what-we-do/who-we-are/

In late 1988, Japan witnessed a brutal crime, shocking the nation as kidnapping, torture, and murder of Junko Furuta, known as the “Concrete-Encased High School Girl” took place within the nation. Beyond the immense cruelty, the case revealed disturbing truths behind youth crime, institutional failure, and social treatment in Japan.

Junko was a 17-year old highschool student at Yashio Minami High School. She was described as a friendly, pretty, and kind girl who had good academic performance and had a part-time job. As Junko Furuta began to attract attention for her beauty and quiet intelligence, a teenage boy named Hiroshi Miyano took an interest in her. Miyano was already known in the community for his violent behavior and for having ties to the Yakuza, one of Japan’s most notorious organized crime groups. Confident in his ability to intimidate others, Hiroshi reportedly approached Junko and asked her out. However, she politely declined, stating that she wasn’t interested in a relationship at the time. For someone like Miyano—who was used to getting whatever he wanted through fear and coercion—this rejection deeply wounded his pride. It’s believed that this moment triggered the events that would ultimately lead to Junko’s abduction.

On November 25, 1988, Junko was leaving her part-time job and was suddenly abducted by four teenage boys: Hiroshi Miyano (18), Jō Ogura (17), Shinji Minato (16), and Yasushi Watanabe (17). Junko was pedalling home at approximately 8:30 PM and as the boys passed by, Miyano instructed Minato to kick her bicycle and run, which caused her to fall to the ground. Moments later, Miyano approached her and pretended to offer help. Several sources say he offered to walk her home, while others suggest he offered her a ride. Regardless, he successfully lured her away from safety, taking her to a warehouse and hotel before he threatened to kill her before raping her, then keeping her captive for 44 days in a house in the Ayase district of Adachi, Tokyo, owned by the parents of one of the boys. In order to avoid any suspicion, the perpetrators forced Junko to call her parents, telling them that she would be staying at a friend’s house.

During her 44 days in captivity, Junko was subjected to unimaginable pain and ongoing physical, mental, and sexual abuse. The four boys took turns raping, beating, and torturing her multiple times a day, even inviting other men to assault her. The boy even inserted foreign objects, such as lightbulbs and lit fireworks into her private parts, causing severe burns, tearing, and even bleeding. Junko was even starved, consuming cockroaches and her own urine. She was even not given a proper sleeping arrangement, as she was forced to sleep outside on the balcony in the middle of winter. It didn’t end there, as the boys hung her from the ceiling and used her as a punching bag for their entertainment, causing damage to her organs which resulted in internal bleeding. The torture continued everyday from being poured hot wax on her eyelids to stuck sowing needles in her chest. All this continued torture caused her to become infected and full of noxious pus, internal damage to the point where she lost total bladder and bowel control, and even uncontrollable seizures.

The boys kept her in Minato’s room on the second floor and whenever adults were around she was always forced to pose as one of the boys’ girlfriends. Although Minato’s family was well aware of what was happening under their roof, they were fearful of his Yakuza connections and abuse, making them stay silent, letting the abuse continue. In December, Furuta managed to somehow contact the police, however the boys found out and subsequently set her on fire. Despite the torture, Furuta managed to survive.

On January 4, 1989, according to court testimony, Miyano challenged Furuta to a game of mahjong and was able to beat Miyano. This caused Miyano into rage and anger, causing them to douse her limbs in lighter fluid and setting her on fire. As more pus began coming out from her wounds, the boys wrapped plastic bags around their fists and started violently punching and kicking Furuta. After 44 consecutive abuse, her body couldn’t take it, as she passed away on that day. To dispose of her body, the boys placed Furuta’s body in an empty 55-gallon drum and filled it with wet concrete, dumping it in an abandoned lot in Wakasu, Koto Ward, Tokyo. Later that month, police arrested two of Furuta’s captors for kidnapping and assaulting another 19-year-old woman as during their questioning, they accidentally confessed regarding Furuta’s kidnapping and murder as well as the location of her body. The next day, police found her body and arrested the rest of the captors in April. However, they were only charged for rape, not for confinement or murder.

On the 31th of July, 1989 in Tokyo, the first trial began. The juvenile law relies on rehabilitation of young criminals rather than strict punishment, resulting in the boys being anonymous. During the trial, the court did not protect Furuta’s identity as a minor. As the public witnessed this, many people called this out and on April 20, 1989, the Magazine Shukan Bunshun broke anonymity, releasing the criminals’ names saying, “To make a long story short, we decided that beasts don’t have human rights.” On the day of the sentencing, July 20, 1990, all four criminals confessed to the severe injuries caused in Furuta’s death. The court sentenced Miyano to 20 years in prison, the maximum before life imprisonment, Ogura received 8 years, while Minato and Watanabe received 5-7 years and 5-9 years, respectively. To the public, these sentences felt lenient and upon hearing the news, Furuta’s mother had a mental breakdown upon hearing what happened to her daughter and was sent to a psychiatric ward for treatment. There were numerous complaints, phone calls and letters, most demanding the death penalty.

After the following years, the perpetrators have been released and lived a normal life. Miyano was able to continue his Yakuza activities and lived off his father’s money, spending it on expensive cars. Ogura was legally adopted by a friend, changing his surname to Kamisaku. He was later on arrested for attempted murder in 2004, causing him to serve 7 years in prison. Minato, who changed his first name to Shinji, was also arrested for attempted murder in 2018.

The Japan Juvenile’s law focuses on rehabilitation, hoping to reintegrate juveniles back into society, however it can be clearly seen that it did not go well for the three criminals as they committed more crimes. It wasn’t until the Kobe child murders in 1997, where a 14-year-old murdered two younger boys, that the government made plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14. Unfortunately for Furuta, many believe she did not receive justice. The murder of Junko Furuta is one of Japan’s most notorious murder cases involving juvenile criminals and it is truly shocking in its brutality as well as the absence of true justice.

References:

1. Junko Furuta. (n.d.). Timenote. https://timenote.info/lv/person/view?id=4369916&l=en

2. Martinez, G. (2024, November 12). 44 days- the Junko Furuta case. Cliffs Notes. https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-notes/22074754

3. Fusek, A. P. (2019, August 8). How the case of Furuta Junko led Japan’s press to break the rules, and citizens to question the country’s juvenile criminal law. Unseen Japan. https://unseen-japan.com/furuta-junko-horrific-murder/

4. Oto, W. (2025, January 10). Junko Furuta and the Concrete-Encased High School Girl Murder Case: Justice Revisited. Tokyo Weekender. https://www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/news-and-opinion/junko-furuta-murder-case-justice-revisited/?utm

Bias negatif adalah kecenderungan psikologis yang membuat kita selalu berfokus pada hal-hal negatif yang terjadi daripada hal-hal positif. Hal ini bukan sesuatu yang aneh ya kawan. Alasan bias negatif ini terjadi adalah karena otak manusia memang dirancang untuk mengeluarkan respon waspada yang berguna untuk melindungi diri dari ancaman atau bahaya.

Berdasarkan teori evolusi, manusia perlu memiliki sifat mudah beradaptasi dengan lingkungannya untuk bertahan hidup. Pada zaman itu, banyak sekali ancaman-ancaman yang datang sehingga mengharuskan manusia untuk waspada.

Bias negatif terjadi karena beberapa alasan, yaitu :

1. Potensi Negatif

Potensi negatif adalah ketika kita merasakan emosi positif dan negatif tetapi perasaan yang lebih dominan kita rasakan saat itu adalah emosi negatif.

2. Gradien Negatif

Gradien negatif adalah ketika di bulan ini kita memiliki dua acara yang sama penting, yaitu pergi ke pesta bersama teman dan sidang kelulusan. Tetapi pada bulan itu kita hanya fokus memikirkan sidang kelulusan saja karena ada ketakutan dan kecemasan berlebih yang kita rasakan. Padahal di bulan itu ada acara yang sama pentingnya selain sidang kelulusan. Gradien negatif di sini lebih tinggi pada peristiwa ini karena manusia pada dasarnya terlalu fokus memikirkan hal-hal negatif yang belum tentu terjadi.

Walaupun bias negatif memiliki alasan yang baik, tapi ada salah satu dampak yang perlu teman-teman ketahui, yaitu :

Dampak Individu

Bias negatif memiliki dampak yang signifikan dalam pengambilan keputusan, karena kita terlalu banyak menghabiskan waktu untuk memikirkan hal-hal negatif yang sudah terjadi. Walaupun bersikap waspada bisa menjadi hal yang baik, tetapi ini dapat berpengaruh pada pola pikir dan menghalangi individu untuk menggunakan logika dalam membuat ataupun mengambil sebuah keputusan.

Cara mengatasi Bias Negatif

Salah satu cara untuk mengatasi dan menghindarinya adalah dengan mengubah mindset kita. Punya pikiran positif bukan soal bakat, tetapi soal kebiasaan yang dilatih setiap harinya. Ubah kalimat negatif yang sering terucap seperti ‘’ Aku ga bisa’‘ menjadi aku ‘’Aku belum bisa’‘. Mungkin kalimat sesimpel itu terdengar sepele, tetapi memiliki dampak yang besar dalam jangka waktu panjang. Berpikir positif itu bukan berarti kita harus jadi orang yang bahagia dan ga pernah sedih, tapi berpikir realistis dengan harapan. Berlatih untuk bersyukur di setiap harinya juga membantu kita untuk bisa lebih fokus pada hal-hal postif yang terjadi. Karena bersyukur juga berarti kita menghargai pada apa yang sudah tuhan berikan kepada kita.

Perhatian khusus bagi perempuan dari kacamata budaya dan agama bahwa ibu, perempuan dalam keluarga, perempuan sebagai anak sekaligus dalam lingkungan adalah dimuliakan dan setara dengan laki-laki, namun apakah prinsip ini telah terealisasi? Atau melainkan sudah lama lenyap?

Pesan ini menekankan tentang pelecehan dan kekerasan seksual yang nyata nya masih menjadi masalah serius hal ini dibuktikan dalam kompilasi data catatan tahunan kasus terhadap perempuan pelecehan maupun kekerasan yang diterima oleh komnas perempuan. Data KBGtP dalam CATAHU 2024 sebanyak 330.097 kasus, meningkat sejumlah 14,17%

dibandingkan tahun 2023 ( Komnas perempuan, 7 maret 2025 ), namun jika dimuliakan kenapa kasus tersebut kini meningkat drastis?

Kesadaran akan penting nya kasus ini mulai lenyap dan bergeser kepada penyalahan atas akibat pelecehan ataupun kekerasan terhadap berbagai keunikan seorang wanita dari postur tubuh, pakaian dan metode perempuan bersosialisasi di masyarakat. Sering rasanya mendengar stigma sosial yang menyatakan “ jangan berbuat, jika tidak ingin dilecehkan” dan mendorong citra perempuan ke arah negatif.

Bahkan, pertanyaan yang kerap muncul dalam proses hukum dan media ketika kasus terjadi secara nyata adalah, “Waktu itu kamu pakai baju apa?” seakan korban adalah penyebab.

Lalu, siapa yang bisa kita percaya, jika semua justru tertuju pada korban

Sudah berlarut-larut waktu rasa nya mendengar umpatan yang melarang seseorang untuk memakai baju tersayang nya agar “aman”, atau disuruh untuk menurunkan berat badan karena badan nya terlalu vulgar, atau perempuan jangan keluar rumah malam-malam atau atau atau atau atau….

Beraneka larangan dan jangan dilontarkan kepada perempuan agar menjadi sosok yang sempurna tapi jangan terlalu sempurna, khawatir akan mengundang mata pria diluar sana.

Segala macam perhatian dengan niat menghapus kasus ini berfokus kepada korban, kenapa?

Padahal pola pikir kita semua perlu diperbaiki karena fakta nya ini bukan tentang penampilan, atau bentuk tubuh tapi tentang pola pikir yang keliru dan diwariskan.

Nyatanya wanita lebih dari sekedar “objek” tetapi seorang yang terisi oleh jiwa, gairah untuk berkarya dan berpengaruh untuk menjadikan dunia lebih indah.

Perkara ini akan selalu berputar tanpa henti, karena upaya untuk menyelesaikannya masih terhalang oleh masyarakat yang belum sepenuhnya sadar, bahkan enggan membuka mata terhadap kenyataan. Banyak yang masih menganggap isu pelecehan dan kekerasan seksual sebagai hal sepele, sesuatu yang dibesar-besarkan, atau sekadar aib yang harus ditutupi, bukan dilawan. Padahal inilah persoalan nyata yang terus terjadi di sekitar kita di rumah, di jalan, di sekolah, di tempat kerja. Namun semua bisa dimulai dengan memasukkan rasa kemanusiaan, menghargai, dan kesetaraan terhadap perempuan. Hal yang tampak kecil seperti mengubah cara berpikir, cara berbicara, atau sekadar berdiri membela korban bisa jadi awal dari gerakan besar. Satu hentakan ke depan, berharga.

Perempuan tak butuh perlindungan yang membatasi, tapi penghormatan yang membebaskan.

Edukasi adalah awal, keberanian adalah kunci, dan kerja bersama adalah jalan.

Kita bisa kalau kita mau.

Dan perubahan itu, mulai dari sekarang.

“We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
— Malala Yousafzai

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