Aussie, RI families face common problems

JAKARTA (JP): Despite cultural differences, both Australian and Indonesian families face similar problems and need the same protection, a seminar concluded.

Dr. Renate Howe of the Deakin University in Victoria, with Dr. T.O. Ichromi and Dr. Saparinah Sadli of the University of Indonesia (UI) discussed yesterday the impact of societal changes on the make up of family life in both countries. The discussion was held by UI's Australian Studies Program.

Howe identified several major differences between the two countries, including the form of the family, and the relationship between it, and its support by the state.

In Australia, numerous pieces of legislation have been passed to reinforce its typical family, which consists of a father, mother and two or three children with father as breadwinner and mother devoting herself to the care of home, spouse and children.

One law regulates the minimum wage which would be adequate for a married male worker to support a wife, child and 2 or 3 children.

The major similarity, she said, is that "in both countries, the family is the focus of both tradition and change."

Howe said her government's interventions have not taken responsibility away from the family but supported it in the caring for children and elderly.

Sadli said the Indonesian government has conducted a number of intervention programs for the family, including family planning, compulsory education, health and motherhood.

Howe explored a number of concerns for Australian families during this International Year of the Family, including the increasing diversity within and between families brought about by the country's post-war immigration program.

Other concerns identified were the impact of the increasing number of women entering employment, the disadvantaged families, violence within the family, and the problem of aging.

Sadli found that Indonesia is facing similar concerns. The issue of women entering paid work, either for economic motives or as a way to actualize their potentials, is also affecting Indonesian society, she said.

Relatively new

The change, she said, is relatively new and, therefore, creating conflicts within the family or the society. Based on such observations, she classified Indonesian families into two categories, traditional and neo-traditional.

In the traditional families, the gender-based roles are maintained firmly, while the neo-traditional families show relationship patterns which are modified in response to the surrounding changes.

"We can expect the number of neo-traditional families to go on increasing, due to the ongoing development process and the inevitable globalization trend," Sadli said.

The campaign for small families will result in the formation of "extended nuclear families" whose life and work styles will be adapted to the need of small families, but with all of the emotional support group from "extended families" maintained, she said.

The other issues, including the needs of disadvantaged families and the elderly, are also concerns of Indonesian families, Sadli said. "Those issues, which are our common problems, will prevail unless we both start to work on finding the best solutions."(swe)