Dharma Wanita issue<\/p>\n
For close to three decades, this country has celebrated
\nNational Women's Day, which falls on Dec. 22, with ceremonies,
\nplenty of speeches and seminars on the role of women in society,
\nbazaars and social activities, such as paying visits to
\norphanages and the like. Such routine activities have not been
\nlacking in this year's commemoration, either.<\/p>\n
This time, however, a new element has been added: questioning
\nand criticizing the Dharma Wanita organization, an association of
\ncivil servant wives founded 20 years ago to promote the welfare
\nof its members through activities outside their homes.<\/p>\n
Among the Indonesian public, the role of Dharma Wanita has
\nactually been questioned for some time. This time, however, a new
\nweight and meaning has been added to the public's queries because
\nthe most vocal critic was none other than Atiek Wardiman
\nDjojonegoro, who, as the wife of the Minister of Education and
\nCulture, is an executive of the association.<\/p>\n
Reminding people attending a seminar of the role of women in
\ndevelopment and of the host of problems which the organization is
\ncurrently facing -- one of which is keeping alive the interest of
\nits members, many of whom have taken up independent careers --
\nAtiek Wardiman said Dharma Wanita had neglected its main
\nfunction, which is to educate its members, broaden their horizons
\nand improve their skills. Dharma Wanita, she said, was putting
\ntoo much weight on social activities.<\/p>\n
A number of other people have since joined in the attack. The
\nnoted scholar and columnist Mochtar Buchori, who is also the
\nrector of the Muhammadiyah Teachers Training Institute, for
\ninstance accused Dharma Wanita of being undemocratic. "Dharma
\nWanita does not fit our democratic society," he said, questioning
\nthe need for this country to have such an organization. In
\nparticular, he objected to the structure of the organization,
\nwhich determines the function of its members in accordance to the
\nranks their husbands hold in the civil service, while placing the
\nwomen in an inferior position.<\/p>\n
Other critics include Prof. Saparinah Sadli, the head of the
\nWomen's Graduate Program at the University of Indonesia, and
\nSyamsiah Ahmad, an assistant to the Minister of Women's Roles.
\nAll this constitutes a new phenomenon, and a refreshing one. One
\ncould perhaps even say that all this could be taken as an
\nindication that the democratization process -- the questioning of
\nundemocratic (perhaps they could be called neo-feudalistic)
\npractices -- is underway in Dharma Wanita, as it is in our
\nsociety at large.<\/p>\n
The question is, will the critics be able to move the
\nmountain? And the point is that the concept, perhaps a political
\none, that underlies Dharma Wanita is concerned with how to
\norganize the millions of civil servants' wives and family members
\nand make sure that they become "participants" in the national
\ndevelopment efforts. Some critics assert that the preservation in
\nDharma Wanita of the "follow-the-husband" culture is part of a
\ndeliberate effort by the government to control the civil servants
\nthrough their wives (and vice versa).<\/p>\n
And in relation to the mobilizing of large numbers of people,
\nDharma Wanita has proven its merits over the past few decades.
\nThe victories of the ruling Golkar in the past general elections
\nwere in part attributable to Dharma Wanita's contribution. And of
\ncourse it should also not be forgotten that the organization did
\ncontribute considerably to women's progress over the past
\ndecades.<\/p>\n
Considering all that, and adding the fact that many women are
\nalso reluctant to revise the more traditional perception adhered
\nto in the group, one might ask whether much can be expected to
\nchange with regard to the role of women, particularly civil
\nservants' wives. The obvious answer is that much will depend on
\nthe path that our women will choose to follow in the years ahead.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dharma-wanita-issue-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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