Amanda Normanita: Feminist for the World
| A Foundations to Writing assignment referred from an interview session with Amanda Normanita Siregar
Amanda Normanita Siregar — a law student at Universitas Indonesia and a well-known influencer — might be your next inspiration for utilising digital activism to champion a cause she passionately believes in. Born on June 15, 2000, in Jakarta, Amanda was raised in a family that taught her to support her mother in becoming the best version of herself and to help her younger sister achieve her dreams — her first exposure to feminism. At the shy age of 13, Amanda survived a harassment attempt, an experience that deeply affected her but also ignited a determination to combat sexual crime and advocate for women’s liberation.
Amanda began by educating herself with various literature on the subject, which fueled her understanding and motivation to promote gender equality. She then progressed to participating in movements like the Women’s March, describing the experience as “powerful.” Initially, she joined as a lone wolf, not expecting to build friendships with people of different genders, sexualities, and ages, all marching together for the same cause. Today, she consistently promotes the movement through her social media platforms. What truly sets her apart, however, is her patience in educating individuals one by one. She believes that many are unaware of the far-reaching effects of patriarchy due to the lack of literacy in Indonesia.
A common misconception about feminism is that “feminists are anti-men.” Amanda addresses this with patience and persistence, enlightening one person at a time about the concept — what it is, why it exists, and what it aims to achieve. “To fight for you and me,” she often quotes, emphasising that everyone deserves equal rights regardless of gender and sexuality. For Amanda, a true feminist must embody these values in their everyday life; one cannot claim to be a feminist without acting in accordance with these principles.
She further engages the public through an independent initiative called From He to Her, which aims to promote gender equality by unifying voices to uplift those who are unheard. The initiative’s content, entitled “We Stand With You,” reached over 100,000 views in less than seven days.
In the future, Amanda hopes to establish an institution dedicated to empowering women, advocating for gender liberation, and providing accessible therapy sessions for victims of sexual crimes. This goal is inspired by her own journey to feminism, which has transformed her for the better, helping her to value herself more and see the world from a different light.
To be a feminist in the world, we can start by supporting others and educating one person at a time. By making these small efforts whenever we have the opportunity, we contribute to feminism for a better world. Additionally, this approach helps us value ourselves, recognising our journeys and experiences that shape who we are and who we aspire to be — just like Amanda.
