Ati Wardiman questions function of Dharma Wanita<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Dharma Wanita, an organization set up for the
\nwives of civil servants, has been spending too much of its time
\nand energy on social activities and not enough on promoting the
\nwelfare of its members, said one of its own executives.<\/p>\n
Atie Wardiman Djojonegoro, the wife of Minister of Education
\nand Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, said that there is a need to
\nreview the program and structure of Dharma Wanita.<\/p>\n
"There are a lot of problems in Dharma Wanita," Atie told a
\nseminar on the role of women in development on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Dharma Wanita has neglected its main function of educating
\ntheir members, broadening their horizons and improving their
\nskills, said Atie, who heads the organization's unit at the
\nMinistry of Education and Culture.<\/p>\n
Atie, who is also a staff lecturer at the School of Medicine
\nof University of Padjadjaran in Bandung, said Dharma Wanita has
\nput too much of its weight on social activities. "I am open to
\nany suggestions as to how the organizations can pursue its goal
\nof improving the welfare of its members," she added.<\/p>\n
Dharma Wanita was established 20 years ago as a forum for the
\nwives of civil servants. One of its objectives is to encourage
\nthe members to take up activities outside their homes.<\/p>\n
She admitted that with many women now taking up careers, the
\norganization is facing new problems, especially in maintaining
\nthe interest of its members.<\/p>\n
"But I don't agree that we have to disband Dharma Wanita," she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month an assistant to the Minister of Women's
\nRole, Syamsiah Ahmad, also suggested that the government review
\nits policy on Dharma Wanita.<\/p>\n
Atie told Saturday's seminar that discrimination against women
\nis still prevalent in Indonesia due to the gender socialization,
\nwhich puts women in inferior positions.<\/p>\n
Underlining the need to eliminate all forms of sexual
\ndiscrimination, Atie said that education at home and school is
\nparamount in forging equality between sexes.<\/p>\n
"Teachers must be able to recognize and boost the potential of
\nfemale students as they do with male students," she said.<\/p>\n
She said traditional values regarding the roles of men and
\nwomen in society should be reviewed.<\/p>\n
"Gender issues must be raised again and again so that those
\nwho are gender-conscious will understand," she said.<\/p>\n
The seminar, which was held by the Association of Indonesian
\nMoslem Intellectuals (ICMI), also featured Enny Busiri
\nSuryowinoto, chairwoman of the Indonesian Women's Congress
\n(Kowani).<\/p>\n
In response to a participant's question, Enny admitted that
\nthe 1974 marriage law is discriminatory.<\/p>\n
"Revising the law will take time. What we need to do now is
\nimprove gender awareness in society," she said.<\/p>\n
The marriage law puts the husband in the superior position of
\nfamily head while the woman is generally relegated to the status
\nof housewife.(sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ati-wardiman-questions-function-of-dharma-wanita-1447893297",
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