Ati Wardiman questions function of Dharma Wanita

JAKARTA (JP): Dharma Wanita, an organization set up for the wives of civil servants, has been spending too much of its time and energy on social activities and not enough on promoting the welfare of its members, said one of its own executives.

Atie Wardiman Djojonegoro, the wife of Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, said that there is a need to review the program and structure of Dharma Wanita.

"There are a lot of problems in Dharma Wanita," Atie told a seminar on the role of women in development on Saturday.

Dharma Wanita has neglected its main function of educating their members, broadening their horizons and improving their skills, said Atie, who heads the organization's unit at the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Atie, who is also a staff lecturer at the School of Medicine of University of Padjadjaran in Bandung, said Dharma Wanita has put too much of its weight on social activities. "I am open to any suggestions as to how the organizations can pursue its goal of improving the welfare of its members," she added.

Dharma Wanita was established 20 years ago as a forum for the wives of civil servants. One of its objectives is to encourage the members to take up activities outside their homes.

She admitted that with many women now taking up careers, the organization is facing new problems, especially in maintaining the interest of its members.

"But I don't agree that we have to disband Dharma Wanita," she said.

Earlier this month an assistant to the Minister of Women's Role, Syamsiah Ahmad, also suggested that the government review its policy on Dharma Wanita.

Atie told Saturday's seminar that discrimination against women is still prevalent in Indonesia due to the gender socialization, which puts women in inferior positions.

Underlining the need to eliminate all forms of sexual discrimination, Atie said that education at home and school is paramount in forging equality between sexes.

"Teachers must be able to recognize and boost the potential of female students as they do with male students," she said.

She said traditional values regarding the roles of men and women in society should be reviewed.

"Gender issues must be raised again and again so that those who are gender-conscious will understand," she said.

The seminar, which was held by the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), also featured Enny Busiri Suryowinoto, chairwoman of the Indonesian Women's Congress (Kowani).

In response to a participant's question, Enny admitted that the 1974 marriage law is discriminatory.

"Revising the law will take time. What we need to do now is improve gender awareness in society," she said.

The marriage law puts the husband in the superior position of family head while the woman is generally relegated to the status of housewife.(sim)