Megawati says gender equality already exists

Megawati says gender equality already exists

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri jolted a
few feminists when she said she did not agree with all the
brouhaha about gender equality, because as an ideal it had always
been acknowledged by the state.

"I have to protest because gender equality existed even before
the independence of the country," Megawati said during the
opening of a bazaar to commemorate the 71st Women's Day.

Megawati cited the 1945 Constitution which explicitly
advocates gender equality.

"What is important is to implement the idea, while on the
other hand women themselves also have to prove their abilities,"
she said.

Despite being voted the country's first woman vice president,
Megawati does not blindly cater to the campaigns of many
feminists in the country.

She claims that gender equality is something that she has
enjoyed for many years.

Wednesday marks the 71st commemoration of Women's Day, which
was signified by a women's congress held here on Dec. 22, 1928.

The date was named Women's Day in 1938 and the government
officially announced the day as a national day, but not a public
holiday, in 1959 with a presidential decree.

Megawati pointed out that the spirit of women in 1928 was
evidence of women's equality when they joined the fight for
national independence.

She argued that Indonesian women today should emulate that
spirit and be actively involved in building the nation.

She added that the economic crisis was also a golden
opportunity for women to prove themselves and excel.

"The economic crisis in the country has given a chance for
women in rural areas to take the important role of bread winner."

State Minister of Women's Empowerment Khofifah Indar Parawansa
said the Vice President's comment was true in theory but not in
reality.

"The 1945 Constitution does mention equality for all citizens,
but implementation of the law has often been discriminative
against women," she said.

She cited a marital law which stipulates that if a wife is
disabled, a husband may remarry.

"My question is what if the husband is disabled, does this
then allow the wife to remarry?" Khofifah remarked.

The minister also cited discrimination against women in the
economic field because most women were paid less than men for the
same job and not given the same opportunity to advance their
careers.

"My office is now making a list of laws and regulations that
discriminate against women to be reviewed," she added. (04)