Ati Wardiman questions function of Dharma Wanita
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)