Gender issues buried by frivolity, exploitation

Gender issues buried by frivolity, exploitation

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

The capability of local artists, who are running as legislative
candidates, was questioned by the head of a women study
institution at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) Ekowati
Sri Wahyuni. She said they were being exploited for their
popularity just to get votes for their political parties.

"I doubt if most of these (female) artists even have the
capability to fight for women's rights. So far, I only see Nurul
Arifin (a legislative candidate from Golkar) as a candidate who
is capable enough. Perhaps it's because she also studies gender
issues," Sri said on Friday.

Dozens of artists have joined parties prior to the legislative
election campaign. TV actresses like Marissa Haque, Desy
Ratnasari and Sophia Latjuba have joined forces with the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Rieke Dyah
Pitaloka has joined the National Awakening Party (PKB) and 2001
Miss Indonesia Angelina Sondakh has opted to work with the
Democratic Party.

As a result, Ekowati asserted, the parties have put much less
emphasis on their serious female candidates, who truly are
qualified to become legislators, so the public does not get know
what their platform is.

"I don't even know who all the female legislative candidates
for Bogor are, and I imagine it is a similar case for the average
citizen. This lack of information is a result of parties being
too busy with frivolous things on their agenda," she said.

According to Ekowati, the suggested 30 percent quota for
female candidates should have been able to increase the chances
of many capable women to actively join politics. But she said it
was unfortunate that many noted female activists and potential
leaders possibly feared a societal backlash if they spoke up
about gender issues.

She cited dangdut singer Inul Daratista, famous for her
gyrating dance, as a female figure who has shown the toughness to
fight for her rights despite blistering attacks by fellow
artists, religious leaders and politicians.