UI women's studies marks anniversary<\/p>\n
A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
\"Why did you choose this program?\" is a question -- often
\nasked with a strange tone -- male students of the post-graduate
\nWomen's Studies Program at the University of Indonesia (UI)
\nfrequently face when they meet new people.<\/p>\n
The response often varies, from personal reasons in a sentence
\nor two to a detailed scientific argument with a long and
\nsometimes exhausting explanation.<\/p>\n
Probably, the question is a normal one to expect, since very
\nfew men appear to be interested in the program, a fact that was
\nrevealed during the 15th anniversary of the Women's Studies
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
To date, of the program's 165 graduates, only 15 are male
\nstudents. Of last year's graduates, only one -- a student from
\nTimor Leste -- was male.<\/p>\n
Officiating the anniversary event at the Graha Wisata in
\nKuningan, South Jakarta, State Minister for Women's Empowerment
\nMeutia Farida Hatta Swasono urged the program to produce more
\nmale graduates.<\/p>\n
\"More than 90 percent of officials in government ministries
\nare men. In line with the government's gender equality program,
\nwe need more gender-responsive men and women,\" Meutia said.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, Meutia and UI rector Usman Chatib Warsa
\nsigned a memorandum of understanding on establishing research
\ncooperation between the Office of the State Minister for Women's
\nEmpowerment and the university's Women's Studies program.<\/p>\n
However, sometimes the aforementioned question is not only
\nfielded by male students, but also women students -- some people
\nmay question the \"importance\" of the Women's Studies program.<\/p>\n
Professor Saparinah Sadli once revealed that she and other co-
\nfounders of the program were tireless in their efforts 15 years
\nago to convince the UI rector, Sujudi, the importance of
\nestablishing a post-graduate women's studies program.<\/p>\n
With the support of Prof. Marilyn Potter from the Memorial
\nUniversity of Newfoundland, Canada, UI was finally able to set up
\nthe program, which is located in the corner of the fourth floor
\nof the former rector's building on Jl. Salemba, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
While there are many women's studies centers in universities
\nacross the country, only UI offers a Master's degree upon
\ncompletion.<\/p>\n
Hasanuddin University of Makassar, South Sulawesi, introduced
\na similar program three years ago, but it reportedly closed last
\nyear due to a lack of student interest.<\/p>\n
The \"unpopularity\" of the program among students has some
\nbasis in the local culture, particularly an early perception
\nabout women's studies as a course that discusses feminism and
\ngender -- considered to be \"strange\" terms from Western culture.<\/p>\n
Among academicians, the program's validity was also questioned
\nbecause its unclear roots in the \"tree of science\". Was it based
\non sociology, psychology or what?<\/p>\n
As time goes by, people have come to understand more about the
\nprogram and to become familiar with terms such as feminism,
\ngender, domestic violence and reproductive rights, thanks to the
\nprogram's lecturers who, along with professional women activists,
\nhad participated in many women's rights campaigns.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, scientists have begun to understand that women's
\nstudies is a multi-disciplinary program and as such, requires a
\nbackground in sociology, psychology and political science as well
\nfeminist theories.<\/p>\n
During the anniversary event, students and alumni -- who work
\ntoday in a variety of occupations, including civil service,
\neducation, non-governmental organizations and journalism, joined
\na three-day capacity building program to discuss theory
\ndevelopment and strategy to expand upon programs and influence
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
Supported by the Ford Foundation, the UI Women's Studies
\nprogram has also launched three books: Perjalanan Lima Belas
\nTahun Program Kajian Wanita (Fifteen-Year Journey of the Women
\nStudies Program), Penguatan Psikologis untuk Menaggulangi
\nKekerasan dalam Rumah Tangga dan Kekerasan Seksual (Psychological
\nempowerment to overcome domestic and sexual violence) and Komik
\nPendidikan Kesehatan Reproduksi (Educational Comic on
\nReproductive Health).<\/p>\n
The program has been highly productive in releasing
\npublications and establishing cooperation with foreign
\nuniversities, but to increase its \"popularity\", it may need to
\nplace more emphasis in marketing and advertising.<\/p>\n
As Women's Studies co-founder Prof. Farid Anfasa Moeloek said,
\nthe program could be developed further, not just as a Master's
\nprogram, but also as a doctorate program to keep pace with like
\nprograms in universities abroad.<\/p>",
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