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)