Gender equality threatens men's positions: Activist

Gender equality threatens men's positions: Activist

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Bangkok, Thailand

The movement for gender equality and women's empowerment in
Indonesia was restrained by fears that women would take over men
in decision making positions, noted women's activist and
sociologist Saparinah Sadli said over the weekend.

"What men are concerned about is that there will be an
overwhelming number of women taking over important positions.
It's true that they (men) feel threatened by us," she said on the
sidelines of the Fifth Asian and Pacific Population Conference
(APPC) in Bangkok.

The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas
Perempuan) chairwoman said men who opposed the demanded
affirmative action for women usually did not have a full
understanding of it.

"They must understand, and we must make them understand that
the 30 percent quota is not something that has to be achieved
overnight. It is a temporary measure and requires a process," she
said, adding the word "quota" was inappropriate as it implied a
given position.

The 30 percent participation of women in decision-making
positions was the internationally accepted percentage that would
ensure that women's interests were adequately represented, she
said.

Despite the fact the president is a woman, the representation
of women in the legislature is still low at about eight percent
compared to the total number of women in Indonesia (103.4
million).

The more important implication of the affirmative action,
according to Saparinah, was that women were given the same
opportunity as men to compete for decision-making positions.

According to the newly amended constitution, women and men can
not be discriminated against in law and in government rules and
regulations. They have the right to work and earn a reasonable
income.

However, in reality, women still face many disadvantages and
discrimination in the fields of law, education, health,
employment and decision making, both in the family and in the
public arena, according to the Indonesia country report to the
United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ESCAP).

"Equality we may say that we have it already, but access to it
is often hampered because of ingrained discrimination," Saparinah
said, explaining that in many institutions the upgrading and
retraining of employees still gave the priority to men so that
opportunities for women to achieve higher positions were
hindered.

Also, the socio-cultural norms and values in the society
placed women in a subordinate position, which inevitably affected
the position and status of women in both private and public
spheres.

"It has to be forced on, that's through an affirmative action,
if there is competition for scholarship, for example, at least 30
percent of candidates should be women. Not the scholarship
itself, but candidates who compete for the scholarship,"
Saparinah said.

Many men also failed to understand that gender equality did
not mean a 50:50 ratio, and that due to their biological needs,
certain rights should be given to women such as the right for
maternity leave, Saparinah said.

"Equality doesn't mean that there is no differences, because
women's needs are different from men's and they aren't usually
recognized. A woman needs to recover after giving birth, for
example, in which case she needs maternity leave."

Saparinah told the conference that the absence of temporary
special measures or affirmative action, particularly for
increased representation of women in public decision-making
bodies, both at legislative and executive levels, were some of
the persistent obstacles that women still faced.

"Another serious issue that has traditionally compounded the
problem is the lack of participation and responsibility on the
part of the majority of males in the areas of reproductive health
and family life."