Aussie, RI families face common problems
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)