'In the end it will be men who get the seats'<\/p>\n
Some 24 political parties are now struggling to meet the 30-
\npercent quota for women candidates for the general election on
\nApril 5. Many people expressed fears that the parties would
\nrecruit women to fill their lists, regardless of their political
\nexpertise. The Jakarta Post talked to some city residents about
\nthe issue.<\/p>\n
Emi Yusniati, 32, is a food stall owner. She lives in Serpong,
\nTangerang with her two sisters:<\/p>\n
I assume that having more female legislators would benefit
\nwomen, but we are yet to see whether they really do fight for the
\nrights and interests of women.<\/p>\n
I wouldn't really expect much from those popular female
\nartists who have been listed as legislative candidates. I think
\nthey are only going to be used by their parties as vote-getters.<\/p>\n
To be frank, I also doubt whether women are really prepared to
\nlead this country anyway. Maybe this is still the age of male
\ndominance. When will it end? I don't know.<\/p>\n
Baharuddin, 41, is a vendor in Gelora subdistrict, Central
\nJakarta. He lives with his wife and two children at their rented
\nfood stall:<\/p>\n
I know from the media that political parties have been told to
\nmeet the 30 percent quota for women candidates.<\/p>\n
I support such requirements, which encourage equality between
\nmen and women. But I doubt whether political parties can make the
\nquota in such a short time.<\/p>\n
I believe most political parties don't have enough qualified
\nwomen, so the quota should not be mandatory. I am worried that
\nthe parties may recruit just anybody, then we will have worse
\nlegislators than at present.<\/p>\n
Iqrak Sulihin, 26, is a lecturer of criminology with the
\nUniversity of Indonesia:<\/p>\n
The women who have been chosen as candidates are urban
\nprofessionals. But, who will represent the women of the villages?
\nMost of these women don't even finish high school and therefore
\ncannot stand as candidates.<\/p>\n
Moreover, many parties include women in their lists only in a
\nbid to meet the requirements. In the end, it will be men who get
\nthe seats.<\/p>\n
--The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/in-the-end-it-will-be-men-who-get-the-seats-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }