Working women criticized<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A former Supreme Court judge believes the
\ngrowing prevalence of married women in the work force may be the
\nroot of problems within their families.<\/p>\n
Bismar Siregar told a seminar here yesterday that many women
\nnow work to help their families make ends meet.<\/p>\n
\"But working women, especially working mothers, have
\noccasionally been blamed as the source of family disharmony
\nbecause of their activities outside the home.\"<\/p>\n
Siregar said: \"The government should increase the salary of
\ncivil servants to allow male staff to support their families so
\nthat their wives don't have to go out and work.\"<\/p>\n
The seminar was sponsored by the women's section of the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), which
\nplans to feature experts in various fields in a monthly
\ndiscussion on problems affecting families.<\/p>\n
Organizers said the discussion was timely because changes in
\nsociety have also exacerbated family problems.<\/p>\n
\"I am not against women working,\" Siregar said. \"But I also
\nbelieve that if the husbands can be the sole breadwinner, then
\nwives would not have to spend time working, and ultimately
\nneglect the children.\"<\/p>\n
Couples should be informed on religious teachings and
\nunderstand that marriage is part of religious obligations, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"They should not get married solely out of lust because this
\ntype of union will never work,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He said a deeper comprehension of religion would assist both
\nparents in making wise choices for the benefit of their families.<\/p>\n
\"For example, if a wife wants to work because she has the
\nskills, the husband should let her do it, but the wife should not
\nsacrifice her family responsibility,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I know that a woman's right to work is part of human rights.
\nBut I don't think this is totally correct because Islamic
\nteachings place a greater stress on obligations to respect the
\nrights of others, which include the rights of the family.\"<\/p>\n
The organization announced it will also establish a public
\nservice hotline service and a crisis center on family issues.<\/p>\n
Of the over 200 million people in Indonesia, more than 2.82
\nmillion women made up 35.3 percent of the 7.99 million workers
\nlast year. By the end of the government's sixth five-year
\ndevelopment plan in 1999, women are expected to make up 53.1
\npercent of the work force. (12)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/working-women-criticized-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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