Addressing gender needs in Aceh reconstruction<\/p>\n
Andayani, Canada<\/p>\n
Since post-tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation was
\nofficially begun on March 26, there has been a need to call
\nattention to whether women's needs have been appropriately
\naddressed in Aceh. Furthermore, there is also a need to divert
\nattention to ensuring full participation of local women,
\notherwise the patriarchal social order would be reinforced in
\nthis very crucial stage.<\/p>\n
Despite the fact that both men and women have obviously
\nsuffered, the latter were the hardest-hit in the tsunami
\ncatastrophe. As many women's activists have contended, so-called
\n\"gender-specific aftershocks\" have occurred, giving birth to
\nmultiple predicaments that are endured more by females than their
\nmale counterparts.<\/p>\n
On the eve of the deadly tsunami, women were unlikely to be
\nable to save their own lives as they were never taught to swim,
\nto climb, or to undertake any other self-rescue actions due to
\ngender role socialization. Furthermore, as reported currently by
\nthe British-based charity Oxfam International, since women have
\nbeen indoctrinated as being the primary caregivers for the entire
\nfamily, more females died, notably in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and
\nIndia.<\/p>\n
Women victims were characterized as looking for other family
\nmembers as opposed to running away to help themselves. This
\nsituation was exaggerated by the fact that the tsunami hit on a
\nSunday when many women were more likely to be at home while
\nmales went to work at sea or in the fields.<\/p>\n
In general, women deal with two forms of gender-specific
\nissues which are both practical and strategic. The practical
\nentitlements are necessarily required due to the very basic,
\nimmediate, and short-term problems which are driven by their
\nspecified physical needs. These are usually connected with
\nwomen's health and reproductive issues, such as pregnancy,
\nmenstruation, breastfeeding, and so forth.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the attainment of strategic needs is
\nabsolutely critical in order to actualize more equal gender
\nrelations in a society. As widely recognized, females in general
\nare in a subordinated position; therefore, fundamental structural
\ntransformation with long-term strategies should be undertaken
\nvery seriously. Specific projects targeted for women such as
\nincome-generating programs whose goal is to provide prompt and
\nfair economic access, for instance, will strengthen their
\nposition and role, and in turn can bring about social justice for
\nwomen.<\/p>\n
Either in the emergency or rehabilitation stage, both the
\npractical and strategic needs of women should be given a great
\ndeal of attention. However, it could be argued that this
\nrehabilitation stage is an appropriate time to put much more
\nemphasis on deliberate structural changes as the cornerstone of
\nsustainable development for gender equality-related projects.<\/p>\n
Income generating activity as part of economic recovery
\nprograms is advantageous since women often lack adequate
\ncompetencies to participate in the work force. Particularly those
\nwho subscribe to the traditional household division of labor,
\nthey desperately require this program. Many housewives lost
\ntheir husbands and consequently became the new heads of household
\nand breadwinners.<\/p>\n
Strengthening the capacity of local women is critically
\nimportant, otherwise, prostitution and women trafficking will
\nincrease dramatically as an additional consequence of tsunami.<\/p>\n
It is arguably true that eliminating violence and sexual
\nexploitation is a critical strategic need that should be
\naddressed. Due to the disproportionate number women who died in
\nthe tragedy, women survivors may become susceptible to sexual
\nharassment and forced early marriage, as reported by Oxfam.<\/p>\n
In the absence of physical safety, women also lack mobility
\nand hence are becoming more isolated. The situation may be
\nprofoundly worsened by social exclusion due to traditional gender
\nnorms that only consider male-headed households. Women would not
\nbe considered in terms of access to land, since land is under
\ntheir husband's name. Another problem which may arise is sexual
\ndiscrimination with respect to equal access to micro-credit and
\nhousing provided by the government.<\/p>\n
It is recommended that local governments along with non-
\ngovernmental organizations seek to ensure full participation of
\nwomen at all levels of planning, implementation, monitoring, and
\nevaluation of the programs.<\/p>\n
All community-driven initiatives should be encouraged in which
\nwomen should be represented proportionally. Women's
\nrepresentatives should be involved equally in all community
\nconsultations where decision-making about rehabilitation takes
\nplace. There is also a need to strengthen local women's groups
\nand organizations with which the governments should work
\ncollaboratively in order to really reach the grassroots.<\/p>\n
Women truly deserve to be fully engaged in pursuing their
\nstrategic needs in a climate of freedom and safety. Unless we are
\nable to ensure that women will be free from social exclusion,
\ndiscrimination, and violence, we will later be blamed for
\nsharpening gender inequality in post-tsunami Aceh.<\/p>\n
The writer is a lecturer at the State Islamic University (UIN)
\nSunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, and is currently pursuing a Master's
\nin Social Work at McGill University, Canada.<\/p>",
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