Women, politics rarely mingle in Indonesia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Culture and tradition are still the greatest
\nobstacles preventing women entering politics in Indonesia,
\naccording to two seasoned female politicians.<\/p>\n
Cabinet minister Mien Sugandhi and Aisyah Amini of the United
\nDevelopment Party both said that lack of interest and ability are
\nthe two main reasons why there are few women in Indonesian
\npolitics.<\/p>\n
Yesterday was International Women's Day, and although
\nIndonesia has its own National Women's Day on Dec. 22, a number
\nof events were held in connection with the day.<\/p>\n
Mien closed a seminar on women's participation in the business
\nworld, the United Nations Information Center held a lecture by
\nlawyer and activist Nursjahbani Katjasungkana and the previous
\nnight witnessed the election of Miss Indonesia at a pageant in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Both Mien and Aisyah agree that there is still ample room for
\nwomen to be involved in Indonesian politics but current
\nstatistics of women's participation in practical politics do not
\nlook good. Women account for only 12 percent of the 500 members
\nof the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
And there are only two women in the current cabinet of
\nPresident Soeharto. One of them is Mien, who holds the portfolio
\nof State Minister of Women's Affairs, and the other is Endang
\nKusuma Inten Suweno, the Minister of Social Services.<\/p>\n
Women however can take heart that at least one of their sex
\nhas made it to the leadership of the minority Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI): Megawati Soekarnoputri. Some of her
\nsupporters have also been pushing her to run in the presidential
\nrace in 1998.<\/p>\n
Mien, who built her political career through the MKGR, an
\norganization affiliated to Golkar, said she is hopeful that the
\n1997 election will see more women elected to the House.<\/p>\n
\"I expect at least 17 percent of the House to be female,
\nperhaps even as much as 20 percent,\" she told reporters
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
She said she would also like to see more women serving in the
\ncabinet.<\/p>\n
But when asked about the likelihood of a woman president, she
\nsaid \"I don't think the time has come yet. But, then who knows.
\nThat kind of things is unpredictable.\"<\/p>\n
Mien said the ability of a woman is a most important factor in
\ndetermining whether she is apt for a political career.<\/p>\n
\"The prime reason why there are so few women in politics is
\nbecause women have little interest in the field,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Culture and tradition, she said, do not encourage women to
\nenter politics and resistance against women entering politics not
\nonly comes from men, but also from women themselves. \"Politics
\nis considered a man's world,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Aisyah Amini, one of only 62 women in the House of
\nRepresentatives, said there are still misgivings in society about
\nwomen politicians.<\/p>\n
\"Our culture says women should not enter politics because
\npoliticians have to be open, outspoken and straightforward,\" said
\nAisyah, a legislator of the United Development Party and a member
\nof the prestigious Commission I of the House, for foreign
\naffairs, defense and information.<\/p>\n
She also agrees that society's attitude has made it difficult
\nfor women to become politicians.<\/p>\n
Indonesian girls are raised to be quiet, obedient housewives
\nso women who enter politics are considered as going against
\ndestiny, she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nursjahbani in her lecture at the UN Information
\nCenter, said sexual discrimination is still rampant in almost
\nevery field, including the law.<\/p>\n
She cited as an example the 1974 Law on Marriage which defines
\na man's role as head of the family and breadwinner, and a woman
\nas a housewife.<\/p>\n
\"Such definitions establish the pattern of relations between
\nmen and women in society,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The laws therefore affect society's attitude, she said.<\/p>\n
She noted that the number of women workers in Indonesia has
\nbeen growing, and a 1990 survey said they account for about 40%
\npercent of the country's workforce, compared to only 33% in 1980.<\/p>\n
But most of the women workers are concentrated in informal
\nsectors such as farming, trade and services, she said.<\/p>\n
Nursjahbani said the ratification of the UN'S Convention on
\nthe Elimination of Discrimination Against Women has helped to
\nphase out some of the gender biases that had existed in
\nlegislation and government policies.<\/p>\n
But the most important thing to change is society's attitude
\nand instill acceptance that men and women should have equal
\npositions in society, she added. (31\/01)<\/p>",
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