What needs to be done for equality<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Women have gained much compared to the days of their
\ngrandmothers or even mothers, but there is still a long way to go
\nbefore women achieve true equality with men.<\/p>\n
While the country can boast its first woman president (a fact
\nnow readily cited in attempts to play down concerns about gender
\nequality), there is no room for complacency.<\/p>\n
Discrimination still persists, sexually based stereotypes
\npervade and the glass ceiling continues to keep women in clerical
\nor \"traditional\" positions in some firms.<\/p>\n
Although it takes on different definitions for individuals,
\nfor most women gender equality spells being given the same
\nopportunities as their menfolk in education and the workplace,
\nand protection of their rights. Increasingly for younger women,
\nit also means sharing household and parental duties.<\/p>\n
In commemoration of Kartini Day, we talked to prominent women
\nin a variety of fields to find out what it means to be an
\nemancipated woman today.<\/p>\n
Prof. Miriam Budiardjo, political scientist:<\/p>\n
Well, there is too much discrimination, too much to be
\nmentioned. Discrimination previously was in the form of male
\ndomination, however, the scale is decreasing now. The decline is
\nmainly because of the continuous struggle by women themselves.
\nMany non-governmental organizations and women's rights advocates
\nhave launched campaigns to attain gender equality.<\/p>\n
I myself don't specifically campaign for gender equality. But
\nin my activities, I always wave the flag of women.<\/p>\n
Supeni, chairwoman of the Indonesian National Party (PNI):<\/p>\n
The women's struggle is for equality in status and treatment,
\nbut it doesn't necessarily mean to be jor-joran (excessive).
\nBasically, women must not be obstructed in being able to attain
\nknowledge.<\/p>\n
But there has been progress in knowledge among women. If women
\nget equal opportunities to men, they will not be left behind.
\nFounding president Sukarno personified women as the left wing of
\nthe country's symbol, Garuda, while the right wing was men. If
\nthose wings have no equal strength, Garuda would be unable to
\nfly.<\/p>\n
Knowledge for women is important. If women have no knowledge,
\nthe next generation will be less qualified.<\/p>\n
Nadira Alatas, PR executive and talk show host:<\/p>\n
Emancipation for me means equality and equal opportunities,
\nand coordination between both sexes in household tasks.<\/p>\n
Like with my daughter, my husband and I have equal
\nresponsibility. Just as it's my responsibility to call home to
\ncheck if my daughter has had lunch, it's also my husband's. If I
\ncan't do it for some reason, then he should do it instead.<\/p>\n
But, in some ways, I think we're advancing too fast. Some
\nyoung women today are very expressive, but they're also
\naggressive, which is part of the lifestyle changes, the clubbing,
\netc., that is happening now. They become offensive when things
\ndon't go the way they want them to.<\/p>\n
They're emancipating without really understanding the
\nobjective. They think it is about dominating, competing,
\naggressiveness, but we have to remember that what Kartini really
\nwanted was equality in education.<\/p>\n
Ria Irawan, actress:<\/p>\n
I think you asked the wrong person because I don't like
\nKartini and any celebrations related to her birthday.<\/p>\n
And I always associate the word emancipation with stupid
\nthings done by some women in a bid to get what you call equal
\ntreatment with the opposite sex.<\/p>\n
If you ask me what is meant by being a woman here and if women
\nare in an equal position to men, I don't have to give a lengthy
\nexplanation because I know exactly how it feels.<\/p>\n
I was raised by Ade Irawan (her actress mother), a single
\nparent who worked hard to feed five children. You can imagine
\nwhat hardships she had to struggle against.<\/p>\n
My mother is really a strong woman who hates Kartini. Now all
\nof us, her children, have grown up and done well. She is still
\nworking though; and that amazes me.<\/p>\n
Principally, I am not really following what's going on among
\nthe female activists or groups that work for women's rights but
\nsince I worked with some of them, I know they have ideals about
\ngender equality and solidarity among women.<\/p>\n
Once I also asked myself why those activists have to campaign
\nfor this. After I had a chance to work with them on the stage or
\nin seminars, I began to understand. But for me, the idealism
\nstill belongs to several individuals, not the movement.<\/p>\n
I learned the concepts of equality and independence from my
\nmother. I also understand that women here are still shrouded by
\nmyths and social limitations that do not allow them to move
\nfreely.<\/p>\n
How do I cope with that? I just enjoy that situation ... this
\nis what we have here. But I always feel stronger and better than
\nKartini. It's true being a woman here is not easy. We have to
\nrespect ourselves and conduct ourselves in such a way that people
\nwill not just see us as using our femininity.<\/p>\n
Baby Jim Aditya, AIDS activist:<\/p>\n
Some women have been enlightened about their rights but many,
\ndespite their education and achievements, still have to endure
\nunjust treatment in the workplace, society and in their own
\nfamily.<\/p>\n
Many girls from poor families don't get to enjoy education
\nbecause it's the privilege of their male siblings. And women in
\ngeneral are still considered as an object and not as a human
\nbeing with dignity.<\/p>\n
I've also seen many smart and talented women whose opportunity
\nto further develop their potential was diminshed by their
\nhusbands and limited to only household chores and reproductive
\ntasks.<\/p>\n
Apart from being deprived of their rights, women are often
\ndiscouraged from voicing their problems and must keep those
\nwithin the four walls of the bedroom.<\/p>\n
The call for emancipation in schools on Kartini Day is nothing
\nbut a celebration of symbols, like wearing a kebaya (traditional
\nJavanese blouse) or sanggul (traditional hairdo), but we never
\nreally understand the true meaning of emancipation.<\/p>\n
I do believe that proper education can bridge this gap but we
\nhave a long way to go because we can never teach the younger
\ngeneration about emancipation and other women's issues if our
\ngeneration is not critical about the matter.<\/p>\n
Education in the classroom and in families should also
\nemphasize gender equality. By doing so, men will respect women as
\nequal human beings and at the same time it will empower women to
\nfight for their rights.<\/p>\n
Dita Indah Sari, chairwoman of the National Front for the
\nStruggle of Indonesian Workers (FNPBI):<\/p>\n
Compared to women living in Afghanistan or Pakistan, our
\nsituation is far better. But, here there are political and also
\neconomic hurdles that cause women to be left with few choices.<\/p>\n
When we were hit by economic turmoil, many women were forced
\nto work because their husbands were laid off. Although they are
\nworking, it doesn't mean that they are then equal with male
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
In the workplace, discrimination against women often occurs.
\nThe discrimination may be in the salary or treatment. Many women
\nare forced to work in the informal sector where there is no
\nprotection at all over their rights as women and as workers.<\/p>\n
So it is incorrect to suppose that an emancipated woman is a
\nwoman who has a career, who is working or earning money.<\/p>\n
Now with the weakening government grip on its people,
\nreligious conservatism and the revival of hukum adat (traditional
\nlaw) are strongly influencing how our community treats women.<\/p>\n
In some areas, where regional autonomy and traditional law as
\nwell as religious sentiments are on the rise, women are not
\nallowed to leave the house after certain hours, or they are
\nrequired to wear particular outfits.<\/p>\n
My own experience? I think I have given a living example for
\nmy friends here because they can see that a woman too can lead an
\norganization and I think I have managed to do that. I am always
\ntried to involve more and more women activists with us here.<\/p>\n
Being in an organization is a good lesson for everyone.<\/p>\n
Aisyah Amini, legislator and member of the National Commission
\non Human Rights (Komnas HAM):<\/p>\n
When women are no longer treated as the subordinate sex, no
\nlonger as an object and there are no more sexual violations
\nagainst women, then we can say that we have succeeded in the
\nstruggle to achieve gender equality.<\/p>\n
To get to that point, we have to promote what gender equality
\nreally is. Women have to realize that they are equal to men ...
\nsame rights, same opportunities ... For example, why do some
\nwomen opt to be mistresses?<\/p>\n
The debate over the substance of the observance of Kartini Day
\nis not necessary because Kartini had her time over 100 years ago
\nin the struggle to provide education for women.<\/p>\n
Her battle was needed in her time. Now it's our duty to follow
\nsuit, struggling for more.<\/p>\n
Ghea Panggabean, fashion designer:<\/p>\n
The role of women is very necessary because the challenges of
\nthe modern era cannot be solved by men alone.<\/p>\n
Women's roles and responsibilities, which have been limited to
\nhousehold chores and taking care of children, now have become
\nmore challenging as many of them also have a career to pursue.
\nFor this, emancipation is very important to ensure equality with
\nmen and to create synergy.<\/p>\n
In my opinion, Indonesian women have to continue to work and
\nmake their contribution to society in general. By doing so, they
\nwill show the country that they can take care of their
\ntraditional role and also carry out important roles in the
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
This has been proven as we now have a woman president and
\nwomen professors, among others.<\/p>\n
It's more proof that women should not be considered weak but
\nas able people.<\/p>\n
Missiyah, activist from the Circle of Alternative Education
\nfor Women (Kapal Perempuan):<\/p>\n
No significant actions have been taken by the government to
\nachieve gender equality in society. But I see concrete efforts
\ntaken by non-governmental organizations to empower women, and
\nthat reaches the villages.<\/p>\n
We have to understand gender equality as similar rights,
\nsimilar protection and similar opportunities between men and
\nwomen. The term is all about justice for both sexes.<\/p>\n
If we want to create gender equality, then we have to work on
\nthe sources of discrimination against women, such as the local
\npatriarchal culture, the law which fails to provide protection
\nfor women's rights and the economy, where women are marginalized.<\/p>\n
Many people believe that religious teachings also
\ndiscriminative against women. I think it is a good effort in that
\nmany NGOs concerning women rights have started to interpret
\nreligious teachings, which mostly put women in a subordinate
\nposition in society.<\/p>\n
Kapal considers that we need local leaders emerging from the
\nsmallest groups in society. Their existence will strengthen the
\nefforts to achieve such equality.<\/p>",
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