Time is over for Dharma Wanita

Thu, 18 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB | Source: RAKYAT MERDEKA

Rakyat Merdeka reported on Nov. 4, 1999, the possibility that
Dharma Wanita, the association of civil servants' wives, would be
dissolved. As the wife of a government employee, I strongly
support the move.

This women's association is a product of the New Order, and
does more harm than good for its members. Every month Rp 500 is
deducted from my husband's salary. The members are obliged to
follow every event in their husbands' office, such as
discourses on important issues, arisan (the drawing of an
aggregate sum of money contributed by members), calisthenics,
buying uniforms and many other time-consuming activities. Each
activity costs extra money which must be used outside of the
household budget.

It is indeed burdensome, and represents a type of enslavement
of women by the New Order regime. My husband criticized the
association and, consequently, his chances for promotion were
hampered. He was classified as being disobedient to the
government.

MRS. MEA

Cimahi, West Java

View JSON | Print