Breaking the Stigma Against Women in Activism

Some of us might believe that activist organizations must be led by men. However, Samiyem challenged that notion when she was appointed Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Student Association (IMM) at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIK), Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) in 2024.

Becoming the leader of a movement organization often perceived as masculine is no easy feat. She admitted that at the beginning of her reign, there were many critical voices questioning Samy's identity as a woman. "There must be something wrong with the regeneration process," said Samy, repeating the ridicule she had heard.

These disparaging voices were especially loud during Samy's nomination for chairperson. Many questioned why a woman should fill the role, especially when other IMM branches were led by men.

“If all the leaders are men, then who will represent the fact that activism can also come from women?” said Samy, Thursday (17/4/2025).

Refusing to be trapped in negative thoughts, Samy committed to proving that women could also be relied upon. She strived to be as reliable as men in IMM. “I want to prove that women can also lead,” Samy said.

The memory is still fresh for Samy when she had to travel to Semarang to attend the IMM Regional Conference. Her participation in the forum was a memorable experience for her. The presence of women at the event could be counted on one hand, including herself.

Samy felt grateful because the IMM leaders across UMS accepted her presence as a female chairperson of IMM. It’s worth noting that currently, there are two IMM commissariats at UMS led by women: the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIK) and the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education.

Carrying the name of IMM is a noble duty that Samy bears. Wherever she goes, IMM is part of her identity. Even during her visit to Japan, she did not set aside her IMM affiliation.

In early 2025, Samy joined an exchange program to Japan through the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) program. Samy was one of six Muhammadiyah delegates visiting the Land of the Rising Sun.

While in Japan, she introduced herself as a Muhammadiyah and IMM cadre. She also had the opportunity to study Japanese culture, live with a Japanese family, and introduce Muhammadiyah, Islam, and IMM to the people there.

“During the sharing session about Islam, I also slipped in some information about Muhammadiyah and IMM. To make it easier to understand, I explained that IMM is like the child of Muhammadiyah,” she recalled.

She firmly believes that the presence of women in activist organizations should not be underestimated. Both men and women have different perspectives on issues. These differences are essential to broaden insights when making decisions.

“Men tend to think logically and are fiery, while women are more calm and prioritize emotions. So, they complement each other,” she explained.

Samy with several Indonesian delegates during the Jenesys 2025 program, held from January 28 to February 4, 2025. 

Born in Serang, Banten, on May 14, 2004, Samiyem grew up in a modest family. The youngest of three siblings had been actively participating in competitions since she was young, such as chess tournaments and comic-making contests. “I've been pushed to multitask since I was a kid,” she joked.

While studying at Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan Muhammadiyah in Cilegon, Banten, Samy actively participated in the Muhammadiyah Student Association (IPM) at her school. She joined in 2020 and held the position of Head of the Science Studies Division. A year later, she was entrusted with the role of General Secretary.

In 2022, Samy advanced to the Regional Board of IPM Cilegon and served as Head of the Ipmawati Division, where her duty was to advocate for and empower female students in Muhammadiyah schools across Cilegon.

The educational environment in her hometown was somewhat influenced by that of Jakarta. Cases of bullying, especially targeting female students, were rampant there.

In response, she took the initiative to establish an advocacy house for female students who were victims of bullying. “It's a place to advocate for girls who are bullied. A safe space for girls,” explained the Beasiswa Unggulan UMS Scholarship awardee.

Samy (center) promoting IMM during the 2024 Student Organization Expo at Edutorium KH Ahmad Dahlan UMS.

Samy's organizational spirit continued to grow when she started studying in the Physiotherapy Program at UMS in 2022. She joined several student organizations. In her first year, she was active as a research and development division staff at Hizbul Wathan UMS and secretary of the cadre division at Pejuang Masjid UMS.

The following year, Samy joined several other organizations. She served as General Coordinator of the Neurology Physiotherapy Study Club, an editorial staff member at Cendekia Student Press Institute, and she also ventured into activism by joining the Muhammadiyah Student Association (PK IMM) at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIK) UMS.

Time management became a significant challenge for Samy amid her many activities. She admitted that her time-management skills weren't acquired instantly; instead, she had trained herself to be active since elementary school.

“This has been a long journey. Since my school days, I’ve been used to having a packed schedule. Plus, I enjoy exploring different things,” she said.

Thanks to her persistence and resilience, Samy was entrusted with the mandate of becoming the General Chairperson of PK IMM FIK UMS last year, making her the first female chair in the history of the activist organization at FIK UMS.

Samy understands that education is the key for everyone to achieve a bright future. However, that belief is still dismissed by some groups, who uphold the idea that women do not need to pursue higher education.

In her hometown, such stigma is commonly heard. Samy is determined to break that mindset. She believes that women have a responsibility to pass on knowledge to future generations. Moreover, her parents have been very supportive when it comes to education.

This is why she continued her studies to a higher level. Her desire to challenge that stigma inspired her to pursue a degree in Physiotherapy at UMS. Her reason was simple: the Physiotherapy program at UMS also teaches pediatric physiotherapy. “I really love working with children,” she said.

Samy and her team won gold and silver medals at the 2024 World Competition and Exhibition at Mahsa University. 

Not stopping there, Samy participated in various competitions, eager to keep challenging herself. As a result, she has earned numerous awards, including: 1st place in the National UWHS Pediatric Stage Olympiad 2023, 3rd place in the National Scientific Writing Competition (LKTIN) at UNIMED 2024, and a bronze medal in the Mandalika Essay Competition 2025.

Feeling that national competitions were not enough, she pushed herself to compete internationally,  and once again, she succeeded.

Among her international achievements are: a gold medal at the International Competition Five Minutes Thesis 2023, a bronze medal at the Mars 11 Southeast Asia Paper Competition 2023, and a gold medal at the International STEM Innovation Competition 2024.

Samy further created several innovations useful in the healthcare field. Two of her notable works are the Distrophis application and a post-stroke training device.

The Distrophis app is designed for stroke patients and healthcare workers. It includes educational videos about stroke, a regular medical record feature for stroke patients, and data tracking on the number of stroke cases in specific areas.

Meanwhile, the post-stroke training device is used to help stroke patients regain sensory, motor, and muscle strength during recovery.

The device uses simple materials, such as tennis balls to train gripping ability, LED lights to practice motor skills, and synthetic grass to stimulate sensory functions.

“There’s also synthetic grass to train sensory abilities, and rubber bands to strengthen finger muscles,” she explained while showcasing her handmade tools.

These two innovations were then showcased at the World Competition and Exhibition 2024 in Malaysia. The Distrophis app won a gold medal in the scientific innovation category for Innovative Social Science, while the post-stroke training device earned a silver medal in the Applied Life Sciene work category.

These achievements add to Samy's long list of accomplishments. It’s no surprise that she was awarded second place as an outstanding student across all Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah Higher Education Institutions (PTMA) in 2025.

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva

Designer: Salsabila Kamila Wardah