Time is over for Dharma Wanita

Time is over for Dharma Wanita

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