Komnas Urges Public Officials to Adopt Gender Perspective in Public Communication

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) is urging all public officials to use a fair and equal gender perspective in policy and public communication.

“Encouraging public officials to use a fair and equal gender perspective in policy and public communication, and ensuring that women have equal opportunities to lead and contribute in various fields without being limited by gender stereotypes,” said Komnas Perempuan member Daden Sukendar when contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He made the statement in response to remarks by the Agriculture Minister to the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), in which the minister asked that the BGN Regional Coordinator for Surabaya be replaced by a man because the work was considered heavy, and suggested the woman be moved to a section that was “somewhat pampered”.

“Such statements should not be viewed merely as a joke or a slip of the tongue, because they reproduce the gender stereotype that men are stronger and more suited to heavy work, while women are considered weaker and suited to light work,” said Daden Sukendar.

He also noted the issue of gendering of leadership, namely the construction of leadership that is still attached to masculine characteristics such as being strong, firm, able to withstand pressure, and capable of handling heavy work.

“This construction can become an obstacle for women to obtain equal opportunities in occupying and carrying out leadership positions,” said Daden Sukendar.

He said women in strategic positions should be assessed based on competence, integrity, performance, and the ability to carry out their mandate, not based on assumptions about whether the work is “too heavy” for women.

“If there are performance issues, evaluation should be carried out based on objective indicators and evidence, not based on sex,” he said.