'Women should not be judged by their looks'<\/p>\n
The participation of Artika Sari Devi in the Miss Universe
\ncontest has drawn protests at home. The country had previously
\nprohibited beauty pageants in the predominantly Muslim Indonesia,
\nlet alone competing in an international event, as some have
\nexpressed the view that it brings disgrace to Indonesian culture
\nand women. The Jakarta Post asked residents their thoughts on the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
Syahrul Hidayat, 29, is a lecturer on Islamic politics at the
\nUniversity of Indonesia. He lives with his family in Depok:<\/p>\n
I am against the Miss Universe pageant. How can you measure a
\nperson by his or her physical appearance and parade it in front
\nof the public?<\/p>\n
I suspect that physical appearance dominates the jury's
\nevaluation. Women should not be judged by the shape of their
\nbodies, especially by exposing their aurat, -- the part of the
\nbody that is forbidden to be shown in public according to Islamic
\nteachings. Can it show someone's greatness?<\/p>\n
Women should be valued more for their intelligence and
\nmaturity.<\/p>\n
It is permissible to show your beautiful face. Yes, you can be
\ngood-looking, but that's not all it takes to be a great woman.<\/p>\n
Those who say that by participating, the country's tourist
\nindustry will benefit, are only looking at the issue from a
\ncapitalist point of view.<\/p>\n
Yenni Erika Riyani, 27, works at a research institute in
\nDepok. She lives nearby with her relatives:<\/p>\n
First of all, I don't agree with a contest that judges women
\nby their physical beauty. Women should be judged by their
\nintelligence, personality, and other non-physical assets.<\/p>\n
If the pageant treats women in such a way, the judges of the
\ncontest are actually treating them like a slab of meat.<\/p>\n
If the pageant is such a positive event, why do they require
\ntheir participants to wear a bikini? What is supposed to be
\njudged by wearing a bikini? Aren't they aware that by wearing
\nmodest attire, which covers almost all parts of the body, they
\ncan also look pretty?<\/p>\n
Perhaps she has studied religious teachings, but that's it. It
\nis only at the level of knowing, not understanding.<\/p>\n
If she still wants to join the pageant, she should propose a
\ncondition that the pageant would not allow the exposure of a
\nwomen's body and that she would only wear modest attire in front
\nof the public.<\/p>\n
--The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/women-should-not-be-judged-by-their-looks-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }