But if you listen closely to the lingo of today’s urban youth, the word Tante has split into two very distinct identities. On one hand, there is the warm, nurturing Tante who pinches your cheek. On the other, there is the Tante —the confident, financially independent, slightly intimidating woman in her 30s or 40s.
From the woman selling gado-gado to the chic Gen Z boss—what does it really mean to be a "Tante" in modern Indonesia?
In Indonesia, family titles are rarely just about bloodlines. We call strangers Bapak (father), Ibu (mother), Kakak (older sibling), and of course, Tante (auntie).
But if you listen closely to the lingo of today’s urban youth, the word Tante has split into two very distinct identities. On one hand, there is the warm, nurturing Tante who pinches your cheek. On the other, there is the Tante —the confident, financially independent, slightly intimidating woman in her 30s or 40s.
From the woman selling gado-gado to the chic Gen Z boss—what does it really mean to be a "Tante" in modern Indonesia? tante indonesia
In Indonesia, family titles are rarely just about bloodlines. We call strangers Bapak (father), Ibu (mother), Kakak (older sibling), and of course, Tante (auntie). But if you listen closely to the lingo